Meet Manal Abu Al-Kas: Creating Through Grief
Manal, a mother of five, is in Egypt while some of her sons remain in Gaza. At Taabu she found a familiar Palestinian community and a craft to focus on.
Pictured
Women crocheting a red and white blanket and colorful squares around a workshop table
FAJR’s leadership on Our TeamI came to Taabu to learn something new, release some of the sadness I was carrying, and find a place where I could feel comfortable again.
Manal Abu Al-Kas, 52 | Palestinian Artisan & Mother of Five
I’m Manal Abu Al-Kas, a 52-year-old Palestinian mother of five. I am in Egypt, while some of my sons stayed behind in Gaza. Being apart from them has meant living through the hardest moments of my life from far away.
On March 23, 2024, one of my sons was injured in Gaza. With no steady income or support, I tried to provide for myself by starting a small home business making pastries and pizza.
Then the devastating news came: one of my sons had been martyred in Gaza. Later, another call came. A second son had been martyred too. I was in Egypt, receiving news that changed my life from a distance. After losing my second son, I closed the small business I had started.
I came to Taabu carrying so much grief. I wanted to get out of the house, learn something new and useful, and find a way to release some of the painful emotions I was holding inside.
At Taabu, I found a Palestinian community that felt familiar. I met women with backgrounds like mine who understood much of what I had been through. Today, creating gives me something meaningful to focus on, and a skill I can keep developing as I think about rebuilding an income for myself.
I carry the memory of my sons with me. And despite everything I have lost, I am still learning, creating and trying to build a way forward.
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.
