Overview
Palestinian women’s cooperatives are places where tradition, creativity, and resilience come together. From embroidery workshops to olive oil presses and cooking classes, these cooperatives preserve cultural heritage while creating opportunities for women to support their families.
For visitors, a tour or workshop at a women’s cooperative is more than a cultural activity. It is a chance to learn traditional skills, taste authentic flavors, and meet the women who carry forward Palestine’s crafts and cuisine with pride. At the same time, these experiences directly support community empowerment and economic independence.
The Experience
Visitors may join embroidery workshops, where women teach the intricate cross-stitch patterns unique to each Palestinian region. Along the way, stories are shared about how embroidery is not only art but also a language of identity and resistance.
Other cooperatives focus on food. Guests can learn to prepare dishes such as musakhan or maqloubeh, bake bread in taboon ovens, or taste homemade jams and pickles. These hands-on encounters are often followed by shared meals, creating warm connections across cultures.
Some cooperatives also sell handicrafts, olive oil, and traditional foods. Buying directly from the women ensures your visit has a lasting impact.
Cultural & Social Significance
Preserving Heritage: Embroidery, cooking, and handicrafts are cultural traditions passed down for generations.
Empowerment: Cooperatives provide women with income, independence, and leadership opportunities.
Community Strength: These groups foster solidarity among women and sustain families under challenging conditions.
Authenticity: Encounters here go beyond tourism, offering genuine cultural exchange.
Practical Information
Where: Women’s cooperatives operate in many towns and villages, including Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin.
Duration: 2–4 hours depending on the workshop or visit.
Activities: Embroidery workshops, cooking classes, handicraft shopping, cultural storytelling.
Etiquette: Participate actively, ask questions, and show appreciation for the skills being shared.
Support: Purchases and participation directly benefit local women and their families.
Selected Women’s Cooperatives
This is only a selection of women’s cooperatives across Palestine. Many other initiatives exist in towns, villages, and refugee camps. When you visit, ask local guides or cultural centers about additional opportunities to connect with women-led projects.
| Name | City / Location | Address / Notes | Website / Contact |
| Women In Hebron Coop | Idna, Hebron | womeninhebron.com | |
| Surif Women’s Cooperative | Surif, Hebron | Surif, Hebron District, West Bank | Telefax: (+972) 02-252-3049 Website Click here |
| Aseela Women’s Cooperative | Bethlehem / Dheisheh refugee camp | website click here | |
| Rural Women’s Development Society | Ramallah | Masyoun, Ramallah. Sabat Building, Edward Said St. | rwds.ps |
| Bethlehem Arab Women’s Union (BAWU) | Bethlehem, West Bank | Works with ~150 women in villages and refugee camps around Bethlehem. Founding in 1947. | Website click here |
| Women’s Child Care Society (WCCS) | Beit Jala, Bethlehem District | Opposite St. Nicholas Church, Beit Jala. Fax: +972-2-274-2507. | Website click here |
| Haneen Project (Balata Camp) | Balata Refugee Camp, Nablus Area | Women who produce handicrafts using regional techniques. | |
| Shorouq Society for Women | Bethany / Al-‘Ezariyya, West Bank | Non-profit for economic empowerment of women; based in Bethany. | |
