The Womens' Corner - Artisan Group

Location: Nablus, West Bank

Portraits of Artisans

Helped by the Nablus Municipality a small group of women created a project called the Women's Corner, which promotes businesses owned by women. In a large Nablus shopping center, I met some of them creating, displaying and selling their embroidered goods, mosaics, paintings and sculptures.

“The Women's Corner offers women a shop to market their products, exhibitions in the West Bank and overseas, access to networks of potential buyers – including local companies and institutions – and training to build their businesses. The latter includes both practical skills like how to finish traditional embroidery products to a saleable standard and also psychological support. With additional support from the United Nations and aid money from the U.S. and Italy, the shop provides women with an outlet for the traditional artistic products they create. Part of its wider mission is to empower the women of Nablus city, its three refugee camps, and surrounding villages.”

Between 2000 and 2009, Nablus was placed under military closure. Few goods or people were allowed in and out of the Israeli army's Huwara checkpoint, crippling the city's economy. Lack of employment amongst Palestinian men caused women in Nablus to start contributing to their families' incomes. This deeply affected its economic and social life, in addition to all of the people who were injured and those who were killed during the second intifada. Many factories were forced to shut down. This reality prompted the Women’s Affairs Committee to think about providing psychosocial support for the women in Nablus.”

Below you will find a series of videos of my conversations with women from the center in particular Sahar Arqwy. You will also see the work of these artisans.