Breaking Barriers: How Young Palestinian Women are Leading the Way in Entrepreneurship

According to a recent World Bank report (2023), only 3.4% of Palestinian women are involved in business and entrepreneurship in Gaza and the West Bank. An overwhelming majority – 81% to be exact – remain excluded from the formal employment system.

Young women are not only up against gender stereotypes –which position them as caregivers – but also face social barriers that hinder their ability to find jobs in their communities.

Youth unemployment, which is widespread in Gaza and the West Bank, affects women at a greater rate compared to men of the same age. 66% of women aged 15 to 29 are unemployed, compared with 36% of men.

In response to the high rate of unemployed young women, the She Succeeds project – funded by Global Affairs Canada – was implemented in Gaza and the West Bank. The innovative four-year project empowered young Palestinian women to become entrepreneurs, specifically in the agriculture sector, while addressing the root causes of gender-based discrimination.

From the She Succeeds project, meet three young women, who broke through barriers and started their own businesses, allowing them to achieve their goals.

Maha: overcoming her fears through a thirst for learning 

“In each phase and period of my life, I set up future goals, and one of those was that by the time I’m 16, I wanted to participate in entrepreneurship trainings especially.”

Living on the west side of Gaza, Maha witnessed the 2021 Israeli offensive, which went on for 11 days and turned the life of millions of Gaza’s residents into a nightmare. Stress, anxiety, and fear haunted her long after the bombing.

“During the offensive, we tried to create an environment that would help her overcome that psychological state; her father and I would take turns staying with her to mitigate her shock. Then I once saw a commercial about a training program on entrepreneurship, and I signed her up for it,”  says Asmaa.

Before participating in the training, Maha had very little self-confidence. Now she is more sociable, creative and her ingenuity shines.

“My gratitude goes to the Canadian government, Save the Children, and Ma’an Developmental Center for the efforts they put in during Maha’s training; she now has leadership skills and a strong personality capable of innovation and communication,” Asmaa proudly states.

Maha plans to complete her studies with high grades, which would help her enroll in an entrepreneurship program at university.

Athar: pursuing her dream by introducing her community to the benefits of self-sufficient crops

“I couldn’t find my passion in the job for plenty of reasons; mostly because of the very low wages that couldn’t provide me with the life I wanted.”

On the rooftop of her house, Athar takes care of more than 30 tower farms that are growing various crops. She calls her project “The Water Hut,” a name reflecting Athar’s journey and big dreams.

Standing next to a pot in which she grows a parsley plant, trimming the edges and removing the surrounding weeds, Athar tells her story.

Athar had been eager to kick start her dream of a one-of-a-kind agricultural project until she saw a Facebook advertisement of the She Succeeds project.

“I received many training courses over a year, on marketing, planning and design – and I have to say that they came in handy on both the personal and professional levels. The most important part of the training was learning how to set up a working plan for any future project,” Athar says.

When Athar began her journey with She Succeeds, Palestine was suffering from increasing droughts and water shortages. Athar recognized that her agricultural project would help to overcome this issue. Her project is 100% chemical-free and relies on organic fertilizers to produce healthy and organic products.

Athar received a grant of $5,400 through She Succeeds to buy agricultural tools, a watering system, seedlings, and special soil. Her business has grown beyond her neighbours and family to restaurant owners, butcher shops, supermarkets, and ceremony halls.

Athar is now a reference in the field, advising and encouraging other members of her community.

Manar: practicing her talent for painting through pastry 

“The financial improvement in the shade of very tough conditions was an impulse to practice pastry, in addition to giving me an individual push in this field.”

Since childhood, Manar’s passion and talent for painting had a huge influence on her life. She was always eager to turn her hobby into a profession.

As soon as she finishes her day as a young mother, Manar begins her second part of the day, baking and decorating cakes.

 “I started working on my project two years ago, then I had the opportunity to join She Succeeds , where I was able to utilize my lifelong talent for painting. I invested my talent in pastry, garnishing cakes that are on demand every day and on all occasions,” says Manar.

Manar received a $5,000 grant through the She Succeeds project, that allowed her to register her small business and to buy baking tools.

The She Succeeds project successfully reached a total of 9,031 direct beneficiaries, including 8,187 young women. Ensuring all women and girls have equal opportunities to succeed is paramount for Save the Children.

Through their journeys, Maha, Athar, and Manar demonstrate that by breaking down barriers to achieve their dreams, they also demonstrate what female leadership can look like in their communities.

Save the Children has been working with Palestinian children and families since 1953; providing quality education, protection for children, access to early childhood development, and employment opportunities for youth at risk.

*All names have been changed to protect identities.

Source:

PCBS. (2021). Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2021. Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.