Introduction
Name: Sondos Shureim
Location: Nablus-Tulkarem
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
A bit about you (Challenges & Dreams)
I studied English language and literature and worked in translation, education, administration, and project coordination. Two years ago, I decided to follow my passion for candles by starting my own business, which I named Passion Candles. One of the biggest challenges was launching this project in the face of job insecurity, limited work contracts in Palestine, and unstable economic conditions. However, I realized it was time to pursue my dreams and start the work I love.
Can you tell me about your profession and how you started?
I learned the art of scented candle making by first participating in a workshop and later engaging in self-study to deepen my knowledge. Once I felt fully prepared, I launched my business online through social media platforms. After three months, the project grew from simply selling gifts and event favors to offering training sessions. I began teaching groups of women how to make scented candles with the goal of helping them establish their own businesses, through a project supported by the Mohsen Qattan Foundation.
Thanks to God, my efforts resulted in great success, leading to media interviews. This journey of success was filled with hard work, perseverance, and determination, despite numerous obstacles and balancing social responsibilities with my formal job.
With the onset of the war, training sessions were halted. However, I was invited by local organizations to conduct online psychological relief workshops for women in the most affected areas of Palestinian provinces. After completing a commercial entrepreneurship training, I was selected to lead a business entrepreneurship course for university students, employees, and aspiring entrepreneurs. This was a pivotal moment in my journey, allowing me to focus on engaging with the Palestinian labor market and helping participants understand the demands of local, regional, and international markets.
How did your craft contribute to the community before the war?
The handcrafted products I created for special occasions made each event more meaningful. I designed personalized candles and gifts to celebrate my customers’ precious moments. Beyond that, my project helped establish individual businesses for women interested in this field. We participated together in local exhibitions, and many women went on to launch successful businesses of their own, by the grace of God.
Perseverance & Resilience: Overcoming Challenges
What unforgettable experiences highlight your perseverance?
The challenges of starting a business with limited capital never seem to end, especially under the harsh conditions of war. It became difficult to run training sessions due to frequent military raids. Closed roads and military checkpoints were significant obstacles to delivering products and traveling. The final training session was delayed after women's associations participating in programs supporting Palestinian women's resilience were raided, leading to investigations and the destruction of some of their materials.
Dreams & Future Plans
What are your dreams and aspirations for life after the war?
Do you have any specific plans to rebuild your life and restart your career?
I aspire to resume educational courses, individual and group training sessions, and therapeutic workshops through crafts. I also hope to participate in more marketing exhibitions in active, high-traffic areas. Additionally, I plan to expand my business by establishing a specialized candle-making workshop, as more and more young women are eager to learn practical crafts alongside their academic qualifications.
How has community support helped you during this time?
The support of my family and friends, who purchased and promoted my products, played a huge role in helping my business reach a larger audience.
What does global support mean to you?
It’s incredible to see handmade Palestinian products, crafted by Palestinian hands, reaching people around the world. Increased demand and marketing for these women-led projects have a profound impact on the continuity, growth, and success of these individual businesses.
Conclusion
What message would you like to share with those reading your story?
It’s wonderful to have a hobby. It’s even better when you have time to practice it. But the best thing of all is turning that hobby into a successful business. As Simon Sinek beautifully said:
"Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion."
