Meet Kholoud Al-Shaer: A Stitch for Gaza
Kholoud came to Egypt for her daughter’s treatment, expecting to stay one month. Three years on, embroidery lets her carry a piece of Gaza with her.
Pictured
Kholoud Al-Shaer, seen from behind, stitching embroidery on white fabric at a craft table
FAJR’s leadership on Our TeamI thought we would return to Gaza after one month. Three years later, I still carry the key to my home.
Kholoud Al-Shaer, 42 | Palestinian Embroidery Artisan
I’m Kholoud Al-Shaer, and I’m 42. I came to Egypt with my family after my daughter received a medical referral for treatment. I thought our stay would be short: one month for her treatment, and then we would go home to Gaza.
That month turned into three years. Through it all, I have kept the key to my home with me.
Living away from home brought deep uncertainty and took away the sense of security I once knew. I found myself constantly thinking about Gaza: our home, our neighbors, and the everyday moments of the life that once surrounded us.
I turned to Palestinian embroidery as a hobby, but slowly it became much more than that. It gave me a way to occupy my mind, release some of what I was carrying, and step away, even for a little while, from the worries that followed me through the day. With every needle and thread, I feel as if I’m letting something out of my heart: memories of my home, my neighbors and the life we once lived.
Today, embroidery is both a personal outlet and a skill I hope can become a source of income. It lets me carry a part of home with me wherever I go.
The key to my home is still with me. And in every stitch, so is a piece of Gaza.
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.
