About the Palestinian Artisans

Among the people who make some of the handcrafted items we sell are:

• The fifty women and two men of the Samoa' Charitable Society in the southern West Bank create traditional handwoven rugs from wool they clean, spin into yarn, dye and weave themselves.
• The Aseela Women’s Cooperative in Bethlehem produces a top-quality soap, food, body-care and medicine from olive oil, flowers, spices and herbs that have been an integral part of the Palestinian cultural tradition for generations.
• The Herbawi Textile Factory is the last operating keffiyah factory in Palestine. Originating in ancient Mesopotamia, the traditional keffiyeh pattern, recognized around the world as symbol of the Palestinian struggle, was modeled on fishing nets and ears of grain.
• The Women’s Beekeeping Cooperative enables women to provide honey and income for their families, and improve their status at home and in the community.
• The Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children is a Gaza nonprofit which produces unique products hand-made by deaf men and women in the community. Due to the ongoing illegal Israeli siege on Gaza, Atfaluna has not been able to ship its crafts.
• LIFEGATE is nonprofit based in Beit Jala near Bethlehem that provides professional training, a service workshop, as well as medical rehabilitation for physically and mentally disabled children and youth, who create beautiful hand carved olive wood products.
• Union of Agricultural Work Committee (UAWC) works to improve the productivity and professionalism of Palestinian farmers; to help Palestinian farmers market their produce; to protect Palestinian farms from Israeli expropriation; and to promote agricultural employment opportunities through a framework of cooperation with domestic and international agricultural development institutions. UAWC is a co-founder of the biggest fair trade network in Palestine called the Palestinian Fair Trade Network (PFTN). Their first-press, extra virgin Olive Oil has won awards in Palestine, Jordan and Italy!