Health and Power in Gaza
Sep 29, 2017
The situation in Gaza has been calamitous and unstable for a long time, but it’s never been as bad as it is now. The electricity shortage has thoroughly affected all aspects of life, particularly in sewage and health systems. Plants that process sewage, water and waste cannot function without electricity. So the sewage plants, for…
Read MoreDespite Water Scarcity, a Green Summer in Jenin
Sep 14, 2017
Is there a sight more beautiful than lush fields of green? But fields need water and in Palestine, water is both the dilemma and the solution. The scarcity of water in the West Bank, particularly, has inspired us at Anera to think creatively. Why not make use of a non-traditional source of water that just…
Read MoreDisability Won’t Stop Heba’s Dreams of Being Gaza’s Top Horse Rider
Aug 29, 2017
Hi Heba! Can you tell us about your background? My name is Hebatallah, meaning gift from God in Arabic. I am 17 and in the 11th grade in Gaza City. I am the eldest of three sisters and one brother. I had a congenital amputation at birth. Doctors say my case is so rare. It…
Read MorePhotojournalist Mohammed Zaanoun Reflects on Gaza’s Scars and Beauty
Aug 7, 2017
Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Mohammed Zaanoun. I am the fourth of 12 siblings. Most of us work in the media world. I was only 19 when I became a news photographer, which had been my parents’ dream. I’ve won several photography awards, but the most prestigious was the “Palestinian Hero…
Read MoreSpaghetti for the Soul
Jul 26, 2017
In East Jerusalem and across the West Bank, Dar Al-Tifel Al-Arabi is known as a renowned school for girls. In the past, it was also known for its large boarding section which housed 300 orphans and other underprivileged girls. But due to military checkpoints and restrictions around Jerusalem, the number of boarders has drastically decreased….
Read MoreSulaima’s World: Supporting Women and Children in Palestine
Jul 6, 2017
Helping other women brings me the greatest satisfaction. As women, we don’t have the support we need in our society—especially working women and mothers. I always try to convey to women that their voices matter and that their development is in their own powerful hands. I get to help women through my job as a…
Read MoreRamadan Pastries Fresh from Ola’s Oven
Jun 19, 2017
Sambusek is a global treat originating in the Middle East. You may know of its cousins, the samosa and empanada. These crescent-shaped pastries can be stuffed with almost anything, but in Palestine they’re made with meat, cheese and zaatar. Recently I learned how to make them with the help of two Palestinian sisters, Ola and Alia. Ola is…
Read MoreRamadan Recipes from Jerusalem to Gaza City
Jun 5, 2017
To celebrate Ramadan this year, we asked our staff in the Middle East to share some of their favorite recipes. From salads to pastries, these dishes from Gaza and Jerusalem are sure to brighten up long days of fasting. Ramadan Kareem! Sabah’s Maqluba Maqluba is Arabic for “upside down.” It’s a fitting name for this rice dish,…
Read MoreRamadan Recipes from Nimeh’s Palestinian Kitchen
May 26, 2017
There is never a hungry stomach in Nimeh’s Kitchen. For my mother, it is not a necessity nor is it a duty to cook, it’s an art. She cooks, we devour – and together we enjoy a perfect time. To celebrate the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan, my mother decided to make…
Read MoreRania’s Diary: Living Without Light in Gaza
May 10, 2017
Early this week, I took a day off to stay home. It wasn’t for family time, school meetings or having friends over for dinner. I simply took the day off to wash the piles of laundry that had amassed on my balcony. Sadly, people here cannot focus on anything but the Gaza electricity crisis, which…
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