Sereen's Sewing Workshop - International Women's Day 2021

Sireen Hana Rabie, 54, is a Palestine refugee craftswoman and self-taught tailor. With support from the UNRWA microfinance programme, Sireen turned her dream of opening her own workshop into a reality. Today, she creates popular fashion accessories, masks and clothing for children using recycled fabrics. By utilizing fabric discarded by industrial garment factories as her raw materials, Sireen contributes towards a more sustainable environment.

As part of our dedication to gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals, UNRWA provides economic opportunities for women and reduces the disparity in employment between women and men. In 2019, 16,052 women had access to loans provided by the UNRWA microfinance programme to support initiatives leading to better economic opportunities for women, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals for Gender Equality and (SDG 5) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) to which UNRWA is committed.  Of these, 5,638 were Palestine refugee women.