Breaking Bread and Building Relationships

Last week, Tomorrow’s Youth Organization had the pleasure of hosting representatives from our Advancing Palestinian Women Entrepreneurs (APWE) project partner, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women . Tomorrow’s Youth Organization and the Foundation have partnered since 2009 to empower women entrepreneurs in Northern Palestine and provide them with the tools and skills needed to grow profitable and sustainable micro-businesses that are scalable and facilitate job creation. During the three-day visit, the Foundation staff met eight APWE entrepreneurs residing in Nablus, Toubas, Jenin and their surrounding villages. The entrepreneurs spoke about their triumphs and challenges, the ways in which their families and communities have either encouraged or inhibited the growth of their businesses, and the financial services they need to access so they can increase the capacity of their enterprises.

Representatives from the Foundation had an opportunity to gain a better sense of the conditions under which the entrepreneurs operate their businesses, understand the tremendous effort it takes for some of the women to attend the trainings in Nablus given the long distances they must travel, and meet the women themselves in their homes while enjoying traditional Palestinian cuisine. After an incredible three days, TYO was sad to say good-bye to the Foundation’s representatives and looks forward to hosting them again the future!

Vanessa, Women’s Empowerment Program Coordinator