POVERTY RELIEF UNHCR - Palestinian, Beduin, Israeli & Gypsy Embroidery Organization Support

EAST JERUSALEM, Israel

Purpose: Palestinian, Beduin, Israeli & Gypsy Embroidery Organization Support

Start Date: June, 2014

Funding Level: $25,000

Lives Directly Impacted: 2,000

SUMMARY

The Inti Raymi Fund visited East Jerusalem and provided financial support into the Jerusalem based non-profit Fair Trade Organization called Sunbula. Sunbula’s mission is to help alleviate poverty by providing fair trade sewing works among 19 communities in Israel consisting of Indigenous Palestinians, Beduins, Israelis, and Gypsies. Our funds were used to facilitate fair trade and sales, equipment upgrades and materials procurement.

19 FAIR TRADE ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING TOGETHER

Sunbula, as described in their words, is “a Jerusalem-based nonprofit Fair Trade organization that supports Palestinian craft producers — women‘s groups, artisan cooperatives and disabled people‘s organizations”. By promoting traditional handicrafts locally and internationally, we support economic self-help efforts of those living in difficult conditions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, especially the Palestinian Minority inside Israel. Sunbula is Arabic for “spike of wheat,” the flower that makes bread. As the name symbolizes, Sunbula helps people provide themselves with the “gift of a more dignified life.”

Sunbula is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (“WFTO”) committed to upholding Fair Trade Values, creating opportunities for disadvantaged producers, sustaining fair working conditions and wages, empowering women, and preserving traditional crafts and artisan skills. They operate two fair trade stores in Jerusalem and an online craft market (www.sunbula.org) and provide training for craft producers to improve production. More than 2,000 women benefit from this organization by earning income through sales generated at their stores as well as benefitting from development training. Sunbula also works to preserve and revitalize the cultural heritage of Palestine by documenting disappearing artisan techniques and designs, and teaching this to the younger generation.

Inti Raymi Fund granted Sunbula $25,000 to be used at their discretion for their support of the Palestinian Women. We are very proud to sponsor Sunbula and all their projects and encourage others to support this wonderful organization by shopping their online store. You provide income with Respect and Dignity to people in dire need of support and receive beautiful, fairly traded hand-made goods. When you purchase goods through Sunbula, you support these 19 organizations across Palestine.

Amari Women’s Program Center – In the Amari Refugee Camp, this center aims to develop the social, cultural, and professional capacities of women. Beneficiaries: 50 women make textile handicrafts for sale: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=102

Aseela Women’s Cooperative – Produce Olive Oil Soap made by traditional methods. Beneficiaries: 20 women from the Bethlehem area refugee camps and village of Beit Sahour: aseela.org

Atfaluna Crafts – An income-generation project of Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, the only institution in Gaza that is devoted to education and services for the deaf: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=29

Beit Doqu Development Society – Hand-made jewelry and food products benefitting 20 women: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=101

Bethlehem Arab Women’s Union – Founded as a first aid center for refugees, also runs the Bethlehem Museum to preserve culture, started embroidery project to meet women’s economic needs: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=21

Canaan Fair Trade – Sells olive oil and other delicacies produced by over 1,700 small farmers, organized in village cooperatives and represented by the Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA): canaanfairtrade.com

Domari Society of Gypsies in Jerusalem – Established to promote cultural survival of the Domari Gypsies and fight severe discrimination, cultural marginalization, poverty, and adult illiteracy: domarisociety.wix.com/domari-society-website#!

Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative – Cooperative aimed at sustaining a declining Palestinian handicraft industry: hlhcs.org

Idna Ladies Association – This is the pride of the village women of Idna, who built it from scratch to provide a living for a critically unemployed area; through embroidery, it provides income for 50 women: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=31

Lakiya Negev Weaving Project– Enables over 100 women to participate in the production of rugs, bags and pillow cases and other handicrafts: lakiya.org

Ma’an Lil-Hayat – First and only wool felting project in Palestine, providing social programs that integrate mentally disabled individuals: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=74

Melkite Pastoral Center – 300 women form eight villages in Ramallah area to produce hand-made traditional textiles: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=19

Sindyanna of Galilee – Joint Arab & Jewish women’s organization focusing on promotion of olive products benefitting 70 women: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=27

Surif Women’s Cooperative– Produces embroidered clergy shawls, table linens and various kitchen items. Beneficiaries: 400 women from the village of Surif: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=30

The Haneed Project – A Balata Refugee Camp based income weaving group: no website link yet.

The Oasis Workshop – Produces paper recycling and gift products. Oasis benefits 21 adults with mental disabilities from the Bethlehem area: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=23

UNRWA Sulfa Embroidery – Project is located in Gaza City and provides income generating opportunities for hundreds of refugee women through a network of 9 community centers across the strip: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=28

Women’s Child Care Society – Provides a nursery, senior center, youth center, low-cost housing, and embroidery work for 50 women: sunbula.org/etemplate.php?id=20

YWCA of Palestine – Has a long history of empowering young women and serving communities in Palestine: ywca–palestine.org

TEAM MEMBERS

Chimu, Claire & Shirabe

COMMUNITY & INTI RAYMI FUND'S INVOLVEMENT

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 2

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 25

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 24

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 23

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 22

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 21

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 20

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 19

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 18

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 17

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 16

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 3

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 15

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 14

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 13

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 12

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 11

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 10

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 9

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 8

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 7

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 6

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 5

EAST JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 4

© 2025 · intiraymifund.org