REFÎF ÎSLÎM

Gaza- Ahlam Khadra, a mother of five, decided to enter the business world after 40. She tries to make people happy with her desserts in Gaza, a city under embargo and occupation.

Two years ago, she decided to realize her dream; having a patisserie. She applied to funds and attended business training programs organized by non-government organizations to empower women's entrepreneurship. After completing the training programs, she started her own patisserie called “Station” in Gaza to stand on her own legs.

She becomes a model for other women

Ahlam Khadra is happy because her newly opened patisserie becomes popular in a short time and dreams of opening a patisserie to serve only women. She uses social media platforms to sell her products due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “I have never had a trust problem until today; I have received online orders, perhaps more than I did face-to-face, and delivered all of them.  Actually, I still pay the debt I took when I started this business but I am happy to be appreciated.”

War also affects Ahlam's Station

Her patisserie project was approved in May but she could open her patisserie late due to the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Ahlam Khadra has difficulties in finding materials for making cakes and desserts due to ongoing war and attacks of Israeli forces. “We don’t want to live under the shadow of the war anymore.”