IPTÎSAM AXFÎR

Benghazi- Nisrîn Salim Etîqa gives shapes to date palm leaves and makes hats, bags, and many other souvenirs. She has many customers not only in Benghazi but also in other cities. 24-year-old Nisrîn moved from Tawergha to Benghazi with her family in 2011. She was encouraged by her mother and began to produce hats, bags, and many other things, “My mother taught me how to produce them. Then I opened a small shop to sell what I produce. Women of Tawergha learn how to produce products by using date palm leaves when they are very young. It is also the culture of our city. Women embrace this job to keep this culture alive.”

“After taking a four-day course, I opened my shop”

Stating that all the Libyan people have been affected by the ongoing civil war and conflicts in Libya, Nisrîn joined a four-day course organized by Support Group for Libya to earn a livelihood and after the course, she opened her own small shop with the support of the group. Nisrîn told us she received orders also from other cities, “I sometimes receive 300 orders.”

“I produce accessories with date palm leaves”

Nisrîn stated that she loves her culture and she tries to keep her culture alive. She loves producing baskets with date palm leaves and she writes her name under each product. The Covid-19 pandemic also affects the works of Nisrîn but she continues to produce by increasing her measures against the coronavirus. “It (Covid-19) also affected my work but my work is a little bit better now. I have found ways to protect myself from coronavirus in order to keep working and producing,” said Nisrîn.

“I have customers from other cities”

Nisrîn’s shop is a good place for everyone looking for souvenirs. She has customers from other cities and their number is increasing day by day.