Artisan Projects of the YWCA of Palestine

The YWCA of Palestine participates in the important work of advocating on behalf of women, refugees, and Palestinian rights. They have created some different artisan crafts to help others become advocates for peace with justice, too. Each item is sold in the USA through UCC Resources.

The Fabric of Our Lives

For understanding the importance of the Right of Return as essential for women’s demands for freedom, dignity, and peace, The YWCA created The Fabric of Our Lives project. They interviewed five women from two refugee camps with a YWCA relationship. The women interviewed were women who were old enough to remember what happened to them and their families in 1948 when they were expelled from their villages. Each doll comes with a small bookmark telling who she is and something about her village.

The purpose of this project is to support refugee women’s livelihoods and their families, raise awareness of the importance of refugee rights, and provide a tool for advocating for the Right of Return or reparations outlined in UN Resolutions or international law. The project sheds light on the history of the Nakba, the Great Catastrophe, and the ongoing forced displacement and dispossession still taking place throughout the occupied state of Palestine.

Dolls are available here. They are $47.50 for one or $285 for the set of six, plus shipping and tax.

Breaking Down the Wall

Breaking Down the Wall is a 10 inch olive wood replica of the Annexation Wall. This five piece wall comes with a booklet that includes facts about the wall and its impact on Palestinian lives – especially women and farmers. It also comes with small stickers of images found on the Bethlehem part of the wall.

The Wall can be used in a multiple of ways including, but not limited to, its use throughout the Advent season. It comes with prayers and stories for each Sunday in Advent and also includes Christmas Eve. The idea is simply to knock down a piece of the Wall until Jesus is born without barriers or walls on Christmas Eve.

The International Criminal Justice Court ruled the wall illegal in 2009 and called for its dismantlement immediately. Let us all join Jesus, who has broken down walls of division, in breaking down this Wall.

The Wall and resources can be found here. It is $27 plus shipping and tax.

Wise Women Also Came 

The Wise Women Also Came celebrates the inclusion of the wise women who must also have come to witness the birth of the Prince of Peace. These are three olive wood dolls that come with a small booklet describing their use during epiphany including the wonderful poem by Jan L. Richardson who has kindly given the YWCA her support and blessing for this project.

The YWCA believes it is time to make visible the presence and contributions of the women who must also have come to witness the birth, celebrate new life, and manifest the light. Towards re-imagining women’s participation and inclusion, you are invited to use these dolls and accompanying poems to reflect on women’s participation and leadership in our sacred story and in our present life.

The Wise Women can be purchased here. They are $77.50 for the set plus shipping and tax.

Flight into Egypt 

The Fight into Egypt is a biblical event described in the Gospel of Matthew in which Joseph fled with his wife Mary and their son, Jesus, because they learned that King Herod intended to kill all infants in the area of Bethlehem. The Holy Family of Nazareth fleeing into Egypt is the archetype of every refugee family.

You are invited to use this statue to lift up all who are refugees today including the over 11.6 million Palestinians dispersed throughout the world. You are invited to remember your sacred roots to this Holy Family and how they connect us to all families and all refugees. You are invited to work for refugee rights and specifically for the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees.

The statue can be found here. It is $22.50 plus shipping and tax.

More information is available in the brochure and photo gallery.

More information about Israel and Palestine is available here.