Cooking in Aida refugee camp, Bethlehem

Islam Abu Aouda lives in a refugee camp in Bethlehem and her firstborn is severely disabled. Her home is humble. The needs of her husband and six children come before her own. Frankly, it would be easy to feel sorry for Islam. Spending time with her, though, you don’t feel sorry. You feel inspired, energised and happy. This is a lady with the best hug in town who sure knows how to giggle.

To make ends meet, Islam, along with five other ladies in Aida refugee camp, gives cookery lessons and hosts home-stays once or twice a month to interested visitors. Their group, formed in 2010, is called the Noor Women’s Empowerment Group. The money they make from these lessons and home-stays goes towards making life better for the disabled kids in the camp. They might buy some equipment a child needs to get around or use the money to give a group of kids an experience they’ve never had. The visitors, in return, get a slice of Palestinian kitchen life and a good meal to boot. Women rule the roost, stockpots are enormous and, regardless of how many guests are expected, enough food is made to feed a small wedding. In time-honoured fashion, the world is put to rights over a chopping board.