A project for women in East Jerusalem
Women supported by the Latin Patriarchate express their joy after finishing their training and finding a job.
I n this period of economic recession in many parts of the world, due to the pandemic, which continues to have a profound impact on the life of our societies, the Grand Magisterium of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre has decided to support the Department of Social Services of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s initiative encouraging the participation of women in business in East Jerusalem.
“The Latin Patriarchate believes that when women are given the means to express their full potential, everyone benefits,” commented Dima Khoury, Patriarchate social worker, who is directly involved in this project which, in recent months, A project for women in East Jerusalem THE ORDER AND THE HOLY LAND has seen several women receive funding to start their own businesses.
“The objective of this initiative is to give these disadvantaged women the opportunity to earn a salary and acquire economic independence by offering them a culturally appropriate context in which they can receive assistance to start a business,” continued Dima. The project took a variety of forms: it enabled some women to buy the equipment necessary to launch their activity, while it supported others in the process of training and developing their project.
Four beneficiaries received a donation for equipment: for the purchase of sewing machines, for the machines needed for a pastry business, for a freezer, and for instruments and equipment for a nail bar. Thirteen other women, on the other hand, have taken training courses to prepare for their future work in the fields of make-up, manicure and cooking. Some of these participants have already created profitable small businesses and we hope very much that they will continue on this journey and will soon be joined by their colleagues.
“Our intervention is aimed at women with low or no income, who often do not have the opportunity, qualifications or training to seek traditional employment and who also face difficult challenges because they have young children to raise and family responsibilities,” Dima told us.
Supporting the entrepreneurial activities of these women means encouraging them in their development, their self-esteem and the active contribution they know how to give and are called upon to make to society. You can read two of their stories in the adjacent boxes.