Meet Israa Qishta: A Place to Breathe in Cairo

Israa Qishta, 29 | Palestinian Artisan & Mother of Two

I’m Israa Qishta, a 29-year-old Palestinian mother of two.

Our children came after a long wait, so when the war in Gaza made everything uncertain, my husband was terrified for their safety. He urged me to take them to Egypt while he stayed behind.

Suddenly, I was in a new country, alone with my two children, trying to adjust to a place I didn’t know. I was afraid and overwhelmed. I simply needed somewhere I could get out of the house and let go of some of what I was carrying.

That is how I found Taabu.

Here, I met other Palestinian women, made new friends, and found a community that made a strange place feel a little more like home.

I also discovered beadwork. I started completely from scratch, learning one step at a time and slowly finding joy in creating something with my own hands. Working with beads gave me a way to focus, release my energy and have something to look forward to.

I arrived looking for an outlet. I found connection, creativity and a skill I can keep building on for the future.

Taabu Club ran the Karama Project in Cairo with FAJR Global from April to September 2026, supporting displaced Palestinian women through handicrafts and emotional support.