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As COVID-19 pandemic cases have been increasing in the Palestinian Territories, women at high-risk violence survivors were unable to obtain proper services as Nablus Shelter lacks appropriate quarantine space as per the Ministry of Health’s protocol measures. Thanks to the  Government of Canada generous contribution that allowed Nablus Shelter to receive and treat GBV cases during the 14-day quarantine period, which made the lives of women and health workers easier, safer, and more comfortable.

In an effort to ensure sustainable use of the space, one of the residents who is a GBV survivor started a vocational training inside the shelter.  She trained others on handcrafts embroidery.  “In this shelter, we are all trying to cope with our stress.  Embroidery is one way to not think about COVID-19” one of the residents said.  The results were beautiful handmade embroidered face masks ready to be sold and generate income. 

“We were excited that women came up with the idea of embroidering face masks” one of the health workers said.

 

(Photo credit: Nablus Shelter)

 

Hand-made face masks by GBV survivors bring income - and a welcome distraction:

Women impacted by violence in the home are producing face masks with traditional Palestinian embroidery, facilitated by the shelter for victims of gender-based violence in Nablus. A women residing at the shelter came up with the idea, and began training the other women, both as an income generating activity and as a distraction from the challenges of daily life during the pandemic. “In this shelter, we are all trying to cope with our stress.  Embroidery is one way to not think about COVID-19” one of the residents said. 

As the COVID-19 related lockdowns saw families confined to the home for many months, demand for Gender-based violence services saw a sharp increase. Not all shelters were able to provide immediate services, however. The shelter in Nablus required support to establish appropriate spaces for quarantining in line with the protocols of the Ministry of Health.

Thanks to the Government of Canada contribution that allowed Nablus Shelter to receive and treat GBV cases during the 14-day quarantine period, the shelter is now fully operational, even in the midst of the pandemic.

“We were excited that women came up with the idea of embroidering face masks” one of the health workers at the shelter said.

“The Nablus shelter provides comprehensive multi sectorial services and we are thankful to the Government of Canada for giving women the chance to excel even during the most vulnerable and helpless moments”.