Women Entrepreneurs: Khawla H. Al-Khateeb

When my husband lost his job during the second Intifada in late 2000, I had to find a way to support my family and feed my children. At first, I was knocking at the doors of civil society organizations, being happy with any opportunity I was offered, and trying to make ends meet. However, one day, I realized how much I was being taken advantage off. It had to change. After years of hard work, I used the small savings I had and purchased my first embroidery machine to work on my own. I was now able to take more orders, and with the help of my family and close friends, my customer base rapidly increased. My love for traditional clothing and my talent in embroidery was becoming my way out of the uncertainty and vulnerability cycle! I also started attending the women entrepreneurship workshops offered by the Bethlehem and Hebron Chambers of Commerce, and explored new opportunities to grow my business. That’s how I came to the decision of opening my own shop in 2013.

Today, I manage and run my own business in Bethlehem. Working on my own account was the most difficult decision I made in my life; but it was a challenge worth taking, one that changed my family’s life to a more dignified and stable one. My work is the main source of income of my family, and with it I am able to support the university studies of three of my children.”