In the heart of Beit Sahour, lies a beautifully remodeled space – Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA) Craft Village. This creative haven allows local artisans’ techniques honed through generations, to showcase their work for local customers and tourists alike.
The Craft Village boasts an array of hand-carved olive wood, hand-blown recycled glassware, hand-painted ceramics, and hand-embroidered textiles. Visitors get treat to traditional Palestinian feasts, Dabkeh dancing, and breathtaking views of Bethlehem at the rooftop dining area.
Anwar, 26, hand-paints BFTA ceramics. She saw the job advertisement by chance. And began working with no previous knowledge of ceramics – now she has been with BFTA for over 4 years. She says,
‘We are creating Palestinian Heritage and now it is known all over the world.
I feel proud of the quality we are creating.’
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans became the first Middle Eastern member of the World Fair Trade Organisation in 2015. Connecting Palestinian fair-trade producers with the global fair-trade marketplace. At Embrace, we bring the vibrant crafts of Palestine to you. Buying BFTA products from Embrace directly supports talented Palestinian artisans. It helps fund our work with marginalized communities across the region.
To get more info about the full range of fairly-traded, ethically-sourced products, handmade in the Middle East: https://shop.embraceme.org/collections/made-in-the-middle-east