Handmade Embroidered Watermelon Keychain - A Symbol of Solidarity

Heba Fathi Obeid

• Location: Jenin, Palestine
• Profession: Embroidery Artist and Vocational Teacher
• Social Media: Instagram - Heba Obeid

From Kuwait to Jenin: My Journey with Embroidery and Vocational Education

My name is Heba Fathi Obeid, born in Kuwait, and I moved to the West Bank in 1974 after the Kuwait War. My journey began with education in Ramallah, where I earned a diploma as a pharmacy assistant. However, over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to the world of embroidery, which I learned from the girls of Ramallah. What began as a hobby soon grew into a passion, and I started practicing embroidery daily.

Despite my love for embroidery, I never abandoned my academic pursuits. I enrolled in Al-Quds Open University, majoring in Social and Family Development, even in the face of great challenges during the 2002 Intifada. Distance education at that time was particularly difficult, requiring me to send my assignments by mail and travel for hours just to take exams. Yet, I was determined to complete my studies because I believed that this field would benefit my community, especially women and families.

After graduation, I became a teacher in vocational education, always staying active in organizing bazaars and exhibitions to support schools. In recent years, I’ve focused on initiatives that promote vocational education, including organizing a major exhibition attended by the Minister of Education. These events aimed to guide students toward vocational training so they could learn crafts that would help them build sustainable futures.