Palestine Development Initiative:
Handicrafts and other products

Palestinians’ rich cultural heritage is apparent in a variety of traditional products, such as olive oil, embroidery and carved olive wood figurines. The disappearance of tourists (combined with a desperate economy) has brought sales of these items to a near standstill, leaving many families without their only source of income. Purchasing these products supports not only artisans and farmers, but their families and entire communities.

Sources of Palestinian Products:
Presbyterian not-for-profit distributors

Whether you want a case of oil for an olive oil tasting party or a single bar of fancy soap, dozens of Nativity sets for your Christmas bazaar or a hand-embroidered stole for your pastor — you can get it all (and much more) through these Presbyterian-related distributors.

Pal Craftaid was founded by a Presbyterian minister and makes consignment orders, especially olive wood and embroidery items, available to congregations and groups all over the country, especially for Christmas gift bazaars. Since 1993 Pal Craftaid has been bringing these items to General Assembly, Youth Triennium and Presbyterian Women Gathering meetings, as well as presbytery meetings and other local events. This volunteer, nonprofit ministry also supports several Christian-managed ministries in Palestine.

Import Peace was founded by Peter Mann, one of the hundred Presbyterians who attended the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program’s 2006 travel/study event in Israel and Palestine. In an attempt to address the grave economic realities in the occupied territories, Peter became a United States distributor of Canaan organic, extra virgin, fair trade olive oil from the most recent olive harvest in the West Bank. Every order is protected by a 100 percent money-back guarantee against breakage, and all profits are donated to charity. Contact Peter Mann or call (218)963-0942.

Sunbula is a nonprofit fair trade organization housed in St. Andrews, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Jerusalem. Embroidery, olive wood, olive oil products, handmade cards, woven textiles, carved mother-of-pearl and other items are easily ordered from their online catalogue. Products come from 13 different women’s groups, artisan cooperatives and disabled people’s organizations across the West Bank and Gaza. Sunbula also actively supports skill-development and capacity-building among these self-help groups.

Sources of Palestinian Products:
Producers, distributors, partners and other sources

Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery has become an important symbol of Palestinian culture. Photo courtesy of Sunbula

The following list of producers includes church projects, cooperatives, women’s groups, family businesses and fair trade distributors. Those that have a special mission partnership relationship with the PC(USA) and those that are certified fair trade are identified.

The Arab Women’s Union — Bethlehem is a non-profit charitable, social and cultural society founded in November 1947 as a first-aid center to care for refugees from the first Arab-Israeli war. The Union sponsors an embroidery project to preserve and revive Bethlehem’s cultural heritage and to help meet the economic needs of women in the area. Products are also available through Pal Craftaid and Sunbula.

The Aseela Women’s Cooperative was established in the fall of 2004 in Bethlehem by a group of women who came together to address income-generation needs of families in refugee camps and rural villages. Their high-quality olive oil soap hit the market in the spring of 2006. Products are available through Sunbula.

Atfaluna Crafts in Gaza is run primarily by deaf adults to produce crafts, home accessories and furniture. The project provides income for 250 women who work from home to produce embroidery. Products are also available through Pal Craftaid and Sunbula.

El-Atrash Workshop is a family-operated, carved olivewood workshop in Bethlehem. Products are available through Ten Thousand Villages.

Il Bambino is a family business of skilled olive wood carving, owned by Bethlehem artisan Salem Giacaman. Products are also available through Pal Craftaid.

Canaan Fair Trade empowers Palestinian producing communities, with a focus on marketing organic olive oil. Other products include soap, capers, couscous, sun-dried tomatoes, za'atar and almonds. Import Peace is a U.S. distributor.

A Greater Gift, a nonprofit program of SERRV International, markets fair trade handcrafts and foods from around the world. Olive wood carving and olive oil products are available.

Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society is a cooperative with 36 member workshops making olivewood and mother-of-pearl handcrafts in Bethlehem. Products are also available through Sunbula and A Greater Gift.

Idna Ladies' Association is a cooperative involving 50 women in the town of Idna near Hebron. Losing much of its land to the Separaion Barrier, Idna is in greater need than ever of economic opportunities. The cooperative produces embroidered bags and purses, linen shawls, placemats, jewelry cases, jewelry and dolls. Products are also available through Sunbula.

The International Center of Bethlehem Gift Shop (Al-Kahf) at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem markets the work of local artisans at the on-site shop and online. Available handicrafts include Christmas Collection, glass products, calligraphy, ceramics, olive wood products, mosaics, paintings, embroidery, books, CDs and silver jewelry.

Melkite Pastoral Center was established in 1988 by the sisters of Ramallah's Greek Catholic (Melkite) Church Center. The Center provides facilities where women from nearby villages obtain fabric and thread, which they take home to embroider in exchange for a salary. Products are also available through Sunbula.

Mosleh Workshop is a family workshop for carving olive wood. Products are available through Ten Thousand Villages.

Manger and nativity figures handcarved on olivewood from Bethlehem. Photo courtesy of  Sunbula

The Oasis Workshop is a paper recycling and greeting card production workshop that provides an opportunity for adults with mental disabilities to work meaningfully and productively in the Bethlehem area. Contact the Oasis Workshop. Products are available through Sunbula.

Raja Bannoura operates a small family business that produces olive wood nativities, ornaments and rosaries that are available through Ten Thousand Villages.

Shepherd's Field Factories are a series of family owned workshops carving Christian items in olive wood. Products are available through A Greater Gift.

Surif Women's Cooperative has enrolled more than four hundred women, giving them the opportunity to supplement their family income and enhance their own self-reliance. Surif's embroidery is known for its distinct style, using cream-colored cotton fabric instead of the common black fabric. This fabric is woven on an antique handloom by Adnan Fares, carrying on centuries-old weaving traditions. Products are also available through Sunbula and Ten Thousand Villages.

Tabyeh is the only entirely Christian community in the West Bank. With support of the Olive Branch Foundation, a number of development initiatives have provided jobs and income throughout the village. These include a new olive press and a ceramic workshop. Products are candles, olive oil, olive oil soap and cosmetics, ceramic Peace Lamps, and olive wood carvings and rosaries.

Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit program of the Mennonite Central Committee, is one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations. Olive wood carving, mother of pearl carving and embroidery are available.

UNRWA Sulafa Embroidery Project provides income-generating opportunities for hundreds of refugee women through a network of nine community centers across the Gaza Strip. Sulafa is a nonprofit project established by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) in 1950. Products are also available through Sunbula.

Women's Child Care Society (WCCS) was established in 1944 in the Christian village of Beit Jala near Bethlehem. WCCS currently provides embroidery work for 50 women from 10 villages in the area and is the only group in Palestine that has preserved the Tahriri (couching stitch embroidery), which is unique to the Bethlehem area. Pillow covers and table runners are available, decorated with gold and silver chords twisted into vividly colored threads. Products are available through Sunbula.

YWCA of Palestine has empowered young women and their communities in Palestine since its establishment in 1918. Their center in Jalazone Refugee Camp includes an income-generating and job-creation project through the production of dolls and puppets dressed in traditional Palestinian costumes including nativity sets. Products are also available through Sunbula.

Zatoun is part of the Palestine Fair Trade Association and brings organic fair trade olive oil to North America. For each bottle sold, one dollar is given each to Trees for Life and Project Hope.

The partner logo indicates that a mission partnership relationship exists between the organization and the PC(USA).

The Fair Trade logo indicates certification by Fair Trade labeling organizations such as TransFair or Fair Trade Labeling Organization, or membership in a Fair Trade organization such as member of IFAT (International Fair Trade Association).

The PC(USA) seeks to include entities with good business practices; however, it is not responsible for ensuring satisfaction with products or the ordering process. To send in feedback or request an application to be added to the directory, contact Elizabeth Sanders.