Handicrafts and Other Products
Intricate embroidery, delicious olive oil, delicately carved olive wood figurines and other traditional handicrafts generate much-needed employment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the disappearance of tourists has brought sales of these items to a near standstill at a time when the Palestinian economy is in shambles; this has left many families without their only source of income.
The desperate state of the Palestinian economy motivated a commitment that the Presbyterian Church (USA) made at its 216th General Assembly to “development and compassionate action in Palestine.” One of the avenues for this effort is to help expand international markets for Palestinian handicrafts and other products. Your purchase of these products benefits not only artisans and farmers, but their families and entire communities.
Whether you want a case of oil for an olive oil tasting party or a single bar of fancy soap, dozens of Nativity sets for your Christmas fair or a hand-embroidered stole for your pastor — you can get it all (and much more) from PC(USA)'s online directory of Palestinian crafts and other products.
Ideas for Selling Palestinian Crafts
-
Display and sell products at Craft Fairs in churches, malls, presbytery meetings, women’s gatherings and in other special events in your community
-
Hold House Parties in your neighborhood, or with friends
-
Start a study group before selling to learn about traditional Palestinian works of art that identify the people and are symbols of life and hope for them
-
If you have a fair trade coffee cart on Sundays, add fair trade Olive Oil and small inexpensive Palestinian crafts
-
Once a month feature a Palestinian craft as a gift for birthdays, anniversaries
-
In larger churches, create a gift shop with items from many different countries
-
In your Church Newsletter:
- feature a particular craft article with its history and personal stories
- feature an article on Olive trees in Palestine
-
Put pictures of Palestinian Crafts on the bulletin board, especially in October, November and December before an alternative market or holiday craft fair
-
Use olive wood candles for monthly Prayer Vigil for Peace in the Middle East on the date assigned for your state
-
Adopt an artisan to help sell their products
-
Cooperate with other churches and organizations to sell crafts at fairs around the community
|
