By Ellen | Women's Empowerment Program Manager
In Askar Refugee Camp in Nablus, Nafeesah’s days begin early and often end late. As a single mother raising her non-verbal autistic daughter, her life is filled with constant care, patience, and worry about the future.
After her divorce, Nafeesah found herself responsible for everything. She had to provide for her daughter, manage the household, and navigate a world that can be unforgiving to women raising children with special needs. Finding steady work was almost impossible. She needed something flexible that would allow her to stay close to her daughter, who requires routine and extra attention.
“I used to stay awake at night thinking about how I would provide for her,” Nafeesah says quietly. “My biggest fear was that I would not be able to give her the life she deserves.”
For years, Nafeesah made traditional foods at home, including pickles, olives, and fresh lebnah, using recipes passed down through her family. Neighbors loved her food and often asked to buy it, but she never imagined it could become a real business. Without training, equipment, or financial support, it felt impossible to grow beyond small batches made in her kitchen.
That began to change when Nafeesah joined the Tomorrow’s Youth Organization’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Program. Through the training, she learned how to turn her cooking into a small business. She developed a business plan, learned how to price and package her products, and began to see new possibilities for herself.
Through the program, Nafeesah also received a small grant that helped her take an important step forward. Instead of producing everything in her kitchen, she was able to move her work into a small storefront in the camp where she prepares and sells her pickles and lebnah. The support also helped her begin supplying her products to local shops in nearby communities.
“For the first time, I felt like someone believed in me,” she says. “I wasn’t just struggling anymore. I was building something.”
Today, Nafeesah’s small shop is slowly growing. Local customers visit to buy her homemade foods, and nearby stores now carry her products on their shelves. The income is still modest, but it provides stability and hope for her family.
Most importantly, the business allows Nafeesah to remain close to her daughter while creating a future for them both.
“When I work, I am thinking about her,” Nafeesah says. “Everything I build is for her.”
Nafeesah’s story reflects the strength of women who continue to move forward despite difficult circumstances. With the right training, small financial support, and encouragement, women like Nafeesah can turn traditional skills into opportunities that support their families and restore dignity and independence.
With the continued support of donors like you, more women in communities like Askar Refugee Camp will have the chance to build small businesses and create more stable futures for themselves and their children.
By Ellen | Women's Empowerment Program Manager
By Hend Jarrar | Youth Entreprenuership Program Manager
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