AIN AL-HILWEH, Lebanon: Preparations are in full swing for Land Day, with thousands expected to march toward the country’s border with Israel, but remembering Palestinian history doesn’t always mean marching.
A cultural center in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp is working to document Palestinian history through artisan creations.
The center in Ain al-Hilweh features paintings from Palestinian artists, some of whom spent time in Israeli prisons, pieces made from ceramic and copper traditionally found in Palestinian homes, as well as embroidered designs, some depicting traditional Palestinian weddings. It also has maps of historic Palestine and traditional clothing.
Adla Mansour, manager of the center, says the facility reflects Palestinian culture and keeps alive knowledge of traditions, especially for Palestinians who live abroad.
The center sells its products to everyone, she says, but a large segment of customers are Palestinian expatriates who visit the refugee camp. This is important because it allows them to carry the products and knowledge of Palestinian culture back to Europe, the United States or states in the Middle East, Mansour adds.
Palestinian women have the opportunity to show off their embroidery and sewing skills by selling their creations to the center. The process helps women improve their income while contributing to the promotion of Palestinian cultural heritage. The center also buys fabric from craftswomen that is later made into traditional Palestinian dress, including the famous keffiyeh, the black and white Palestinian scarf.
Visitors to the center will find books on the Palestinian struggle, from the British Mandate to the recent bombardment on the Gaza Strip, accompanied by photos illustrating Israeli aggression and brutality.
The artists express through their creations the suffering of those living in Palestine, as well as refugees living in Lebanon, Mansour says
The crafts are sold throughout the year but the center sees an increase in interest during day that mark Palestinian loss and sacrifice, such as Land Day and the Nakba commemoration (May 15).
There are also more visitors during events that commemorate the establishment of different Palestinian factions, Mansour says.
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