NAGHAM KARAJEH

Gaza - Ghalia Salah is a Palestinian woman, who creates interactive books for children for their development. She writes short stories and creates interactive books for children, including children with disabilities.  Her books include games to keep children entertained. Living in Tulkarm, a Palestinian city in the West Bank, Ghalia Salah, 39, uses all her savings for children. When we visited her at her home, we saw different types of papers, colorful and striped fabrics and scissors on her table.

She began to create interactive books for her daughter

“I decided to create an interactive book for my daughter. One day, my daughter Sarah was searching on social media, she found an educational book in a distinctive, non-traditional style. She asked me to make a book. As a mother, I wanted to keep my daughter away from the negative effects of internet use because children spend hours online every day and started my project,” Ghalia Salah told us.

Speaking about how she created her first book, she said, “I started designing a book according to the standards of the original model that my daughter had seen by choosing the appropriate and attractive colorful fabrics. Educational books are important for children to develop their skills. Two years ago, I decided to turn this idea into an income and investment project. Now, I create books for children. I use soft fabric so that children can easily carry them. I write the names of children on the books and put the pictures of children on the books in order to motivate children.”

Ghalia Salah aims to keep children away from using electronic devices such as smartphones and computers by creating interactive books and writing stories. “Before creating interactive books, I meet with the mothers of children in order to learn more about their personality, what they like and etc.”

She receives orders

Ghalia Salah has received orders not only from Palestine but also from Arab countries and other countries. She said, “Today, I have been receiving orders from many countries, including Arab countries. I also participate in exhibitions supporting women entrepreneurs. I want to expand my business and open a workshop to teach this art to other women.”