Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative is located
in a Christian village of Beit Sahour near Bethlehem. The Cooperative consists
of 35 artisans who carve crosses, nativity scenes and jewelries from olivewood and
mother-of-pearl.
Olivewood carving is an ancient heritage that dates back to
as early as the 4th century with the start of Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
In the 17th century, Franciscan monks introduced the art of mother-of-pearl carvings,
which, together with olivewood, developed and flourished with the pilgrimage tourism
in the Bethlehem area.
In 1981, a group of artisans in Beit Sahour
came together and established the Cooperative, with the aims “to strive to alleviate
poverty, increase employment, decrease emigration, and increase the level of income
and sustain the Palestinian handicrafts industry for the benefit of the traditional
handicrafts workmanship through marketing their products, marketing the raw materials
at a low cost, and developing their capabilities technically and managerially.”
In recent years, the Cooperative has shifted its focus to export and Fair
Trade, and has managed to pull itself out of the most critical situation by
cultivating supporters and partners in Europe. A member of IFAT (International
Fair Trade Association) it continues to strive for the preservation of the traditional
crafts while utilizing them for economic self-help for artisans and their
families.
Contact Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative:
The cooperative's retail store is located in front of the Shepherd's Field.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 20, Beit Sahour
West Bank, Palestine (via Israel)
Tel: +972-(0)2-277-3087
Fax: +972-(0)2-277-3088
hlcs@p-ol.com
www.holyland-handicraft.org
