Growth anchored in inclusion gives all members of society a chance to succeed. This chance makes them more likely to pursue education, participate in the workforce and engage in activities that lead to economic prosperity.
Palestinian communities have suffered decades of political upheaval resulting in discrimination and marginalization, which has only worsened since war in Gaza broke out between Hamas and Israel October 7, 2023. Women in Palestine have been particularly affected by limited economic opportunity and a nearly 50% unemployment rate.
Child’s Cup Full (CCF) was founded in 2014 by Dr. Janette Habashi, a Palestinian-American professor at the University of Oklahoma. “I felt that I have a responsibility,” explained Habashi. “I'm in a privileged position compared to other Palestinians living back home. You have to do something with your position and where you are. I'm not a big fan of being a bystander.”
CCF’s mission is to employ Muslim and Christian women working side-by-side in the West Bank. The artisans make products for two brands: Darzah, which features handmade goods with traditional tatreez embroidery, and Zeki Learning, which is a collection of children’s educational toys. Since the war, CCF has been able to continue operations and provide salaries for the women.
When Erin Wehe (MBA ‘18) applied to participate in BOTFL as a Mendoza student, she was immediately drawn to CCF, a nonprofit that supports talented, female, low-income and refugee artisans in Zababdeh village in the West Bank in Palestine. As the owner of a small business and then-president of Mendoza Women in Business, Wehe was drawn to the entrepreneurs in Palestine and Habashi herself. She told Habashi in her initial BOTFL interview, "I want to work with a badass.”
Like many BOTFL students, Wehe initially found the site visit intimidating. “As a young professional and student, all you want to do is over-deliver. You want your solutions to make this enormous impact,” she explained. But once students immerse themselves in the community, and are able to better understand how the organization operates within its culture, the stress gives way to a deeper understanding.
CCF offers many lessons for Mendoza students — and for business leaders, if they take the time to look. “These women are so creative in their problem solving,” said Wehe. They constantly manage to deliver despite tight financial constraints and often unreliable supply chains.
Habashi reflected too on the strength of Palestinians. Her people have been systemically oppressed and excluded for generations, yet “we're still here,” said Habashi. “I’m going to exist. Even if you're going to kill me, I will exist. This spirit is what makes me a Palestinian. I'm still here.”
This resilience mindset is powerful when operating a business.
Habashi recalled how a staff member recently bought a large pack of pencils for marking cloth, commenting offhandedly that the supply would last five years. Several of the artisans took the comment literally and expressed excitement that CCF would be in business in five years.
Small businesses are notoriously risky and hard to keep afloat, but “they want this project to continue,” said Habashi. “It's part of their livelihood.”
Like many other BOTFL partners, CCF demonstrates the dignity that can be found in work, as opposed to relying on charity. As CCF’s lead artisan, a single mother named Rahaf, explained, “I am happy when I see my work is produced, sold and worn by other people.”
The work also enables the women to gain financial independence. Speaking of another artisan, Rasha, Habashi said this financial independence has helped her gain a voice in the community. “Everybody listens to her. She can't change the social customs, but she is going to be part of the discussion,” explained Habashi. “That gives you some power.”
Both Wehe and Habashi have seen the effects of this independence. When Wehe first visited, she said the women “portrayed themselves at an amateur artist level.”
Today, they see themselves as the professionals they are and confidently take control in conversations and negotiations with male counterparts.
Today, she said, they see themselves as the professionals they are and confidently take control in conversations and negotiations with male counterparts.
Habashi urges businesses to think about their impact beyond the bottom line. She believes business leaders should rethink their priorities and consider whether it is possible to incorporate impact and empowerment into their business model.
But she said consumers, too, make their own small impacts. When shopping, consumers are making choices about who they want to include in the global economy. She encourages people (especially those with means) to think about the impact of their spending, and to discuss ethical shopping and purchasing decisions with friends and loved ones. She explained: “I think people need to view their purchase as a political statement.”