Preserving Heritage, Cooperative Prosperity, Empowering Women & Serving Marginalized Palestinian Families
From the heart of Kalandia Refugee Camp, on the main Jerusalem–Ramallah road, the Kalandia Camp Women's Handicraft Cooperative is a towering lighthouse, still standing to illuminate the path for women who lost everything after the 1948 Nakba, and for the generations that followed.
KCWHC is a leading Palestinian NGO, started in 1956 and formally registered on 16 September 1958: the first women's society established at the level of Palestinian refugee camps in the Middle East. It was started by 12 Palestinian women activists who adhered to the laws, values and principles of the International Co-operative Movement.
Back in 1958, the Co-operative owned a small UNRWA room shelter at the entrance of the camp. Today it is buzzing with members, staff and beneficiaries in a large three-floor building, the result of continuous expansion to house educational, cultural, vocational, income-generating and humanitarian initiatives for marginalised families, and especially their women, across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The Cooperative is administered by its Executive Committee: 7 members elected by its General Assembly.
Sustainable growth and development of KCWHC towards continued full self-sustainability, while maintaining the support of our membership base and the communities we serve.
Guided by the principles of the international cooperative movement and fair trade:
Self-help, Self-responsibility, Equality, Equity, Solidarity, Honesty, Openness, Social responsibility, Caring for others, Sincerity, Simplicity, Modesty, Commitment.
Preserve and revive Palestinian heritage by protecting, producing, exhibiting and marketing Palestinian handicrafts and embroidery, locally and internationally, to strengthen Palestinian cultural identity.
Collaborate with the public, private and NGO sectors to create income-generating and employment opportunities for Palestinian families, with a focus on women and persons with disabilities.
Empower marginalised women culturally, socially, educationally and economically, so they can participate actively in their families, communities and society, particularly in refugee camps and rural areas.
Provide humanitarian assistance and sustainable income-generating projects for the vulnerable, helping to alleviate poverty and support self-reliance.
Promote and advocate for cooperative laws, values and principles by engaging children and youth in the community.
Strengthen the capacity and institutional development of the Cooperative, enhancing its assets and income for its members.
Open international channels for the exchange of knowledge, customs, culture and traditions through programmes for all ages.
Khadija Farhan was among the women who founded the Cooperative in 1956 and led it for decades. She personally oversaw the construction of the Cooperative's headquarters from 1980, growing it from a single UNRWA room into a three-floor centre for training, production and education.
In 2016, the kindergarten's graduation ceremony was held in her memory, on the first anniversary of her passing.
Fatima Jibreel co-founded the Cooperative alongside Khadija Farhan. The archive photos show the two women side by side among the embroidery that became the Cooperative's livelihood.
Together we can preserve our heritage, empower women, and create lasting opportunities for Palestinian families.
