Bassema Atyani (Um Bashar) comes from the village of Anza, south west of Jenin in the north of the West Bank, an area largely covered in olive orchards. Her story is an inspiring example of the extraordinary resilience and resourcefulness of Palestinian women living under occupation.
Bassema has six children and is married to a government employee. She has worked hard to supplement her husband’s salary as the Palestinian Authority’s hasn’t always been able to pay its staff . As well as running the household, she has, despite many challenges and setbacks, helped to support her children through school and university. Several of them now have postgraduate degrees, and one has qualified as a doctor.
Bassema’s journey with the Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA) began in 2011 when she was offered a training course in making maftoul – the hand-rolled grain unique to Palestine. With her new skill she could join the women PFTA members making maftoul, producing it at scale to be sold to Canaan Palestine, and on to overseas markets. Together, the women of the Anza cooperative made four tons of maftoul over the last year.
In 2013, the PFTA granted Bassema an interest-free loan, which she used to buy four sheep. She learned to produce cheese and other dairy products and began selling them, creating an additional source of income that went towards supporting her children’s education. She also cultivates thyme and olive trees.
Alongside all her farming and food production initiatives, Bassema also works in the local school canteen, preparing pastries. Drawing on her experience, she started a Facebook page to sell pastries, maftoul, cheese, and homemade foods to help maximise her income.
She has also taught relatives how to make maftoul, including her young granddaughter, passing on the skills she has learned to others.
Bassema says that her husband and children are very supportive, which has encouraged her to keep finding new ways to increase the family income. It helps that she is also blessed with great time management at skills!
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