NAGHAM KARAJEH

Gaza- Women entrepreneurs launch projects to resist the deteriorating economic crisis and the increasing unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip. One of these women entrepreneurs, Mona Akila, 26, is an interior architect but she launched a project to realize her childhood dream. She opened a restaurant named “On the Wood” in the Gaza Strip.

She has realized her childhood dream

Speaking about her project, she said, “Opening such a restaurant was my childhood dream. After graduating from the Interior Design Department, I decided to realize my dream. I decorated and opened my restaurant. The restaurant offers Palestinian local dishes.”

“I wanted my restaurant project to be very different,” she added. People have shown great interest in the restaurant and local dishes offered by the restaurant. Seeing a female restaurant owner in the Gaza Strip is unusual; however, she is welcomed by the people. Mona Akila is happy for the interest of the people in the restaurant.

Call on women in Gaza

12 women work in the restaurant now. “I am really happy to offer an employment opportunity for these women. I faced many difficulties in opening the restaurant due to high prices of materials needed for designs and decorations. But I used alternative materials of good quality to decorate the restaurant. My aim is to expand my business now. I want to call on women in the Gaza Strip to follow their dreams despite obstacles. If they believe in themselves, they can overcome all the obstacles.”