2. The shop with embroidery is the only women-owned spot in the entire old market. The place is situated in the H2 sector, which is under Israeli control (H1 is controlled by the Palestinian Authority) following the 1995 Oslo Agreement and the 1997 Hebron Agreement. Above the old town, there is a fence. It often happens that the settlers throw eggs, bottles, or rocks as the daily acts of aggression against Palestinians. In H2 there are now 500-850 illegal Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter and 21 checkpoints making daily life very difficult. 

3. Handcrafted traditional dresses with embroidery.  Until the 1940s, traditional Palestinian costumes reflected a woman's economic and marital status and the town or district of her origin. This information was readable from fabric, colors, cuts, and embroidered motifs. Nowadays embroidery can be seen on non-clothing items such as purses, bags, pillowcases, accessories, and carpets.

4. Laila Hasan After two years of working together with her sister Nawal, Laila learned English well enough to communicate with tourists and volunteers. She was able to become an independent seller. As a small child, Lila had a dream to become an English teacher. Now she's a mother of 6 kids. Her husband can't work since he broke his back while working on Israeli construction sites. That makes Laila responsible for taking care of the whole household and family.

5. Community center in the Idna village.  Nawal Slemiah the Founder and chief of „The Idna Cooperative Association for Embroidery and Handicrafts” for years tried to become economically independent by producing and selling the embroidery. With time she decided to register the organization, which gave her the opportunity to apply for international support and grants. By existing financial programs the organization was able to invest in sewing machines, as well as sewing and carpeting training for members.

6. Um Sallam. Um Sallam has been sewing for 20 years. As a child, she observed her mother at work and was trying out the sewing machine while her mother was on break. For many years, she used to sew at home for her family and neighbors. Now she is divorced and her children already have their own families. After her daily work, she returns home and does embroidery on her own. With the money she has earned, she supported her adult children, by buying a house and finishing it.

7. Lina and her daughter Shaza. Lina and Um Sallam are the only two members working full time at the sewing machines. All the other women are making embroidery. It’s hard for the association to find members, who are able to work permanently full time. It happens often that women who are hired and getting married, don’t have their husband’s permission for work and have to quit.

8. Lina and her daughter Nada. Lina, a mother of 3 years old Shaza and 11 years old Nada works full time. She runs a house and raises her daughters alone. Before she worked in an electrical factory. Her husband is currently serving a sentence in an Israeli prison.

9. Women presenting Nawal their work and new patterns. Finished embroidery is viewed on spot by Nawal who pays a certain amount of money (from 20 to 150 shekels) for the work depending on the size, complexity of the pattern, and quality. Nawal orders specific designs depending on demands and coordinates the whole process. 

10. Fatma embroidering at her house. Leaders are responsible for picking up fabrics from the cooperative's office in Idhna, which they later distribute between family and neighbors, coordinating their work. A map of independent Palestine will be created on this piece of fabric. The modern patterns are designed by chosen members. The association also cooperates with designers from abroad. 

11. Office work in the living room  Hazal, the Turkish academic conducts 20 interviews with women. These interviews are necessary to receive a Fair Trade certificate. It is not easy for a small organization and costs a lot of money. The certificate helps to increase the sales range. Besides the stationary shop, the cooperative sells the products online and by international craft trades. 

12. Lunch preparations  Cooperative is also a safe space for open discussions, being together while having a cup of strong, sweet mind tea or lunch. Lina prepares her favorite fatayer – middle eastern pie stuffed with spinach.

13. Nawal is sinking in papers closing the year and putting documents in order. Nawal has always been an activist, who truly believed in her own independence and making the women's situation better. She is the second woman from her family's village Arsamitt who got a higher education degree. With other women's organizations, visited women in their homes and disseminated elementary knowledge on their rights, on prevention, and health taught them how to read and write. She has visited women whose husbands were in prison. Nawal helped them by organizing childcare. She also founded a network of kindergartens located in smaller towns around Hebron.