Producing Local Cotton Diapers – Meeting Basic Needs During War
In Rafah, southern Gaza, amid the roar of shells and shortages of electricity and water, Maysaa Qattati decided to turn from witness into doer.
Every day she observed mothers searching desperately for basic necessities, especially diapers, which had become scarce or unaffordable due to disrupted supply lines, the blockade, and rising prices. She thought: What if I produce local cotton diapers? Why not?
Her small workshop began producing around 500 diapers daily, using local fabric and employing local women, hands that kept working even during power cuts.
In a region where poverty affects nearly 60% of the population, and children are among the most vulnerable, her initiative provided an essential product and created jobs.
Maysaa recalls:
“I watched children crying and mothers searching for diapers with nothing to find. I felt I had to do something. Every diaper I sew is a message of love to them, saying: you are not alone.”
Sewing on a Bicycle – Unbroken Will in Gaza
Her initiative was more than a business; it was a small community safety net: women working, children receiving essential items, and a small spark of hope. While many projects in Gaza halted or collapsed, this initiative endured because it addressed an urgent and real need.
The lesson: even amidst extreme hardship, one can turn pain into action. By responding to a critical human need, one can create impact, provide sustenance, and offer hope that endures.
