The YWCA of Palestine participates in the important work of advocating on behalf of women, refugees, and Palestinian rights. They have created some different artisan crafts to help others become advocates for peace with justice, too. Each item is sold in the USA through UCC Resources.<\/p>\n
The Fabric of Our Lives<\/strong><\/p>\n For understanding the importance of the Right of Return as essential for women\u2019s demands for\u00a0freedom, dignity, and peace, The YWCA\u00a0created The Fabric of Our Lives\u00a0project. They interviewed five women\u00a0from two refugee camps with a YWCA relationship. The women interviewed were women who were old\u00a0enough to remember what happened to them and their families\u00a0in 1948 when they were expelled\u00a0from their villages. Each doll comes\u00a0with a small bookmark telling who she\u00a0is and something about her village.<\/p>\n The purpose of this project is to support refugee women’s livelihoods and their families, raise\u00a0awareness of the importance of refugee rights, and provide a tool for advocating for the Right of\u00a0Return or reparations outlined in UN Resolutions or international law. The project sheds light on\u00a0the history of the Nakba, the Great Catastrophe, and the ongoing forced displacement and\u00a0dispossession still taking place throughout the occupied state of Palestine.<\/p>\n Dolls are available here.<\/a> They are $47.50 for one or $285 for the set of six, plus shipping and tax.<\/p>\n Breaking Down the Wall<\/strong><\/p>\n Breaking Down the Wall is a 10 inch olive wood replica of the Annexation Wall. This five\u00a0piece wall comes with a booklet that\u00a0includes facts about the wall and its\u00a0impact on Palestinian lives – especially\u00a0women and farmers. It also comes with\u00a0small stickers of images found on the\u00a0Bethlehem part of the wall.<\/p>\n The Wall can be used in a multiple of\u00a0ways including, but not limited to, its use\u00a0throughout the Advent season. It comes\u00a0with prayers and stories for each Sunday\u00a0in Advent and also includes Christmas Eve. The idea is\u00a0simply to knock down a piece of the Wall\u00a0until Jesus is born without barriers or\u00a0walls on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n The International Criminal Justice Court ruled the wall illegal in 2009 and called for its\u00a0dismantlement immediately. Let us all join Jesus, who has broken down walls of division, in breaking down this Wall.<\/p>\n The Wall and resources can be found here.<\/a> It is $27 plus shipping and tax.<\/p>\n Wise Women Also Came<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The YWCA believes it is time to make visible the presence\u00a0and contributions of the women who must also\u00a0have come to witness the birth, celebrate new\u00a0life, and manifest the light. Towards re-imagining\u00a0women\u2019s participation and inclusion, you are invited to use these dolls and accompanying poems\u00a0to reflect on women\u2019s participation and\u00a0leadership in our sacred story and in our present\u00a0life.<\/p>\n The Wise Women can be purchased here.<\/a> They are $77.50 for the set plus shipping and tax.<\/p>\n Flight into Egypt<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n You are invited to use this statue to lift up all who are\u00a0refugees today including the over 11.6 million Palestinians\u00a0dispersed throughout the world. You are invited to\u00a0remember your sacred roots to this Holy Family and how\u00a0they connect us to all families and all refugees. You are invited to work for refugee rights and specifically for the\u00a0Right of Return for Palestinian refugees.<\/p>\n The statue can be found here.<\/a> It is $22.50 plus shipping and tax.<\/p>\n More information is available in the brochure<\/a> and photo gallery<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Wise Women Also Came celebrates the inclusion of the wise women who must also have come to\u00a0witness the birth of the Prince of Peace.\u00a0These are three olive wood dolls that come with a\u00a0small booklet describing their use during\u00a0epiphany including the wonderful poem by Jan L.\u00a0Richardson who has kindly given the YWCA her support\u00a0and blessing for this project.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Fight into Egypt is a biblical event described in the\u00a0Gospel of Matthew in which Joseph fled with his wife\u00a0Mary and their son, Jesus, because they learned that King\u00a0Herod intended to kill all infants in the area of Bethlehem.\u00a0The Holy Family of Nazareth fleeing into Egypt is\u00a0the archetype of every refugee family.<\/p>\n