NEXEM KARACA

Gaza - Two women interior designers Basma Kishko and Rana Al-Kurdi have started an innovative project by combining their theoretical knowledge with their talents in handicrafts. They have experience in design and decoration by working hard for 14 years.

They began to participate in exhibitions

“After graduating from the university, I gained experience in design and decoration by working for a company by signing a temporary contract. After the term of the contract expired, I started learning how to embroider and make handicrafts. Since I had theoretical knowledge in design and decoration, I learned them in a short time,” Basma Kishko said, adding that they participated in two exhibitions held by the Women's Affairs Center for the first time between 2012 and 2013. “At the exhibitions, the people encouraged us to keep designing handicrafts.

Decrease in demand

Speaking about the challenges they have faced, Basma Kishko said, “We have faced various challenges but we do our best to avoid routine like other young people. Unemployment and siege are the main reasons for the crises and problems in the Gaza Strip. We have difficulties in finding materials demanded by our customers. The traders are afraid of bringing some materials and the economic crisis also affects our business. For these reasons, fewer people demand us to design and decorate their houses.” Basma Kishko wants to open a workshop in order to provide job opportunities for other people. “As the demand for the goods and services increases, the demand for labor will increase. We aim to hold an exhibition in order to display our designs and handicrafts.”

Their work attracts attention

Speaking about how they started to design handicrafts, Rana Al-Kurdi said, “We decided to start an interior design business in 2013. The handicraft industry has been developing for more than two years. So we spent our free time making handicrafts such as decorative wooden objects and bedspreads.” Emphasizing that all kinds of handicrafts complement the interior design of the houses and add a different beauty to the houses, Rana Al-Kurdi stated that they have combined their theoretical knowledge with handicrafts. “This combination attacks the people’s attention,” she added.