Strong, Savvy Women

I want to introduce you to one of my favorite places and one of my favorite persons from my trip to the Middle East: Nawal and the Women’s Cooperative of Hebron!

At the Women’s Cooperative of Hebron, we were greeted warmly by Nawal and her sister who invited us into their shop, served us delicious tea, and showed off their beautiful clothing, bags, wall-hangings, and other goodies embroidered by women. To support their families and become more financially independent, women from all over the West Bank learn skills like embroidery and make beautiful products in their homes to be sold in shops like this one.

Palestinians have been hit hard, economically, by the military occupation because of the violence, arrests, and restrictions of movement. In Hebron, the military ordered many businesses to close and several others closed themselves when the city was under curfew (they could not leave their homes) or the shops could not be profitable. Many men in Bethlehem can no longer go to their jobs in Jerusalem because of the separation wall and checkpoints. Farmers in the West Bank have a hard time getting their harvests to the market because of the roadblocks and restrictions on roads. Husbands and fathers have been killed, arrested, or deported to Gaza with no notice or explanation. All of these stories mean serious financial, social, psychological, and cultural implications for women and children.

Nawal's is the only women-owned shop in the marketplace and the male merchants often give them a hard time. It is especially difficult, Nawal said, on days when her son comes to work with her and he wants to run and play, not sit quietly in the shop! Our friend Kevin, a perpetual good sport, provided us all with lots of laughs when Nawal demonstrated how to wear the traditional Palestinian keffiyah. The women just loved that Kevin bought gifts for the women in his family there, including a coin purse embroidered with the words “Women Can Do ANYthing!”


When we visited the village of At-Tuwani in the South Hebron hills, we met Kifa, an entrepreneur who started a Women’s Co-op in her village. When Kifa first started the Co-op, there was little support in the village but her husband stood behind her. Little by little, more women (and supportive husbands) began to take part after seeing what a positive thing it was for the community and for their families. Now even some of the most conservative families take part in the Cooperative. Kifa told us that she does this work because it is good for women; it helps them financially, psychologically, and spiritually. She said it sets a good example not just for little girls but especially for little boys like her own sons whom she knows will grow up to be “good men”.

The full-time CPT members in the village told us that Kifa’s husband had been arrested a week earlier for taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the demolition orders of homes and electrical pylons in their village. British Prime Minister Tony Blair had previously visited the village and promised, on behalf of the Quartet, that they would receive electricity so the village built electrical pylons in preparation. But the village recently received notice from the Israeli government that the pylons were illegally constructed and will be bulldozed. Building permits must be approved by the government and it is almost impossible for Palestinians to be granted permits. At our visit, Kifa's family did not know yet when her husband would be allowed to return or how much the fine would cost. You can imagine the stress this causes for Kifa and her children and how important a source of income is for them now. The demonstration was likely an excuse to arrest her husband, the team told us, because the government knows he is a respected leader and organizer in the small community.

Holy Shenanigans: ways to put your faith into action:

• Support fair-trade women’s products and businesses, like 10,000 Villages, which sells products from women’s co-ops around the world. Plan ahead when you take vacations or mission trips and save your souvenir money for women’s co-ops or shop in areas that need the money most.
  
  
• Ask the Quartet to keep Tony Blair's promise that At-Tuwani will receive electricity.
  
  
• Teach your daughters, and just as importantly, your sons, that women can do anything! Model gender equity in your sermons, Sunday School curriculum, church committees, and family life.
  

Watch this video to hear from Nawal in her own words:

Powerful Women from Alternative Information Centre on Vimeo.