Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Palestinian Woman Makes Ramadan Lanterns with Recycled Materials | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55375428
Caption:

A man walks around stalls selling festival lights and Ramadan lanterns, or “fanoos Ramadan”, in old Cairo, Egypt June 6, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS


Gaza, London- Palestinian designer Souad Kaheel turned a room in her house in the Gaza Strip into a workshop to make Ramadan lanterns.

Souad, 26, sells Ramadan decoration lanterns at affordable prices because she makes them with recycled materials.

She sells lanterns for kids in Gaza to cheer them during the holy month, without adding burdens on their parents amid the difficult economic situation in the besieged territory.

Kaheel told Reuters: “Ramadan this year has come while the economic situation in the country is very hard. So, I found I can make simple articles like small lanterns to cheer the children.”

“Cardboard lanterns with simple touches make great articles for low prices, because the economic situation in the country is getting worse.”

Lanterns are being sold for 10-30 Shekel (over $3-8). Samira Kaheel, Souad’s mother, helps her daughter in designing and making the lanterns by using different types of colored papers, stickers, glue, along with many recycled materials.

Samira said: “My daughter has been interested in handcrafts since she was a kid. I help her and I always show her motivation by buying all the materials that she may need during her work. At the same time, I picked up some ideas from social media websites so she can apply them.”

Her lanterns are popular among Gaza residents because of their good quality and affordable prices.

A Palestinian woman called Hanan Mohamed who came to buy lanterns for her children said: “I came to buy my kids lanterns to celebrate the holy month with one of its traditional icons. Souad makes great articles by using recycled wastes, which makes them even more beautiful.”