The Ceramic center in Nisf Jubeil is a great opportunity for women in the area. But what are their stories? What does it really mean for them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a child, Ruwaida Jelal Khalil dreamed of becoming an artist. “Art,” she tells us, “has always given me energy, helping me in moments of deep sadness.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We are in Nisf Jubeil<\/strong>, a village of about three hundred inhabitants, perched on the hills of Samaria (Nisf<\/em>, in Arabic means “Half”, and Jubeil<\/em> comes from Jabal<\/em>, ie “Mountain”: “Half of the mountain”). The Association pro Terra Sancta and the Mosaic Center Jericho, supported by FAI (Fondation Assistance Internationale) in Lugano, have started a Ceramic Centre here.<\/strong> The activity is part of a wider project to support the population of the nearby town of Sabastiya<\/strong>, the burial place of John the Baptist according to the tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “When I heard about the new center I immediately thought it was perfect for me!” Ruwaida says, “I’m self-taught, I never got the chance to study art. Despite this, I knew my chance would come … Sooner or later\u201d. Yes, eventually, because until that moment life had never been merciful with Ruwaida Jelal Khalil.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “I got married and I went to Jordan<\/strong>,” she explains, “I had four children, three males and one little girl!” “But my life was not life: I had to ask permission for everything and I could not get out of the house<\/strong>.” So she divorced and returned home<\/strong> where she now lives with her family. “I\u2019m worried about my children” she goes on explaining, “When I left my husband I managed to bring with me only the little Lujain, the girl, but for the others … I have not seen them for years<\/strong>!” Then she takes the phone and shows us a picture of a boy who is about 17. “He is Omar, the only one of my three other children that I am able to contact through Whatsapp.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n