Our bakery is located in Deheisha refugee camp. It looks like just another normal house in the camp, but inside are stories of hope and empowerment for 6 Palestinian refugee women. Here we believe that women are the leaders in their homes and communities. This bakery is an opportunity for the women to transform their lives and their family's lives. This Community Bakery is a “Thank-you” gift from Karama to the women, who are working hard in the rooftop greenhouse project. It is part of the organization’s efforts for the social and economic empowerment of refugee women, as a way to give them the appreciation and opportunities  they deserve.
We believe that providing women with the opportunity to work in this bakery will increase their income, allowing them to contribute in providing for their families. It will also allow them to develop their skills and personality, meeting every person’s need for self-development and following their dreams.
 
The selected women received different training to work in the bakery, starting with workshops from a professional chef who trained them to master the right ways of preparing delicious bread and pastries. They also received some business and time management training to help them manage their time and run their social enterprise.
For our fresh pastries, we use freshly picked organic vegetables from our rooftop greenhouses as well as for the pizza toppings. This bakery only use fresh and healthy products for all our pastries, promoting one of our main goals that is to provide healthy food snacks for the local community.
 
Walking by our bakery you won't resist the smell of freshly baked Palestinian pastries, but what you definitely won't resist is seeing our women feeling empowered by running their community bakery. Bet you, you will love to try the pastries these women make. ​

2018 was the second year of our Rooftop Greenhouse project. This year, Karama worked endlessly to further our goals of empowering Palestinian refugee women, and help them become leaders of their own lives and their families’ lives. As we do believe that these women can be the change leaders!

This year we have learned a lot; Palestinian refugee women have taught us and shown us that even amid critical social and economic situations there remains hope for change and it makes us proud to say that Karama is contributing to these feelings of hope and accomplishment.

In 2018 we reached our goal of building more greenhouse units and started working in Al-Arroub refugee camp, reaching now a total of more than 100 greenhouse units spread in four refugee camps. We also have learned a lot about working in the greenhouse; in 2018 we tried to implement new ideas and agricultural experiences in the greenhouses. Some of which were suggested by the women themselves who with practice became much more knowledgeable in running their greenhouses. Together we harvested tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, peppers, green onions, garlic, and thyme.

After two years of work and cooperation we wanted to thank the women, for their determination and teamwork. As part of this initiative, Karama team also started a new step and opened a Community Bakery. We have chosen a group of the most active women, gave them a professional training in bread and pastries making and management, so they can start running the bakery and together become social entrepreneurs of change.      

​As we are excited for a new year starting, we would like to thank all our beneficiaries  for the work they helped us accomplish and hopefully 2019 will be filled with more cooperation, hope and determination.