Freelancing Online – A Window of Hope in Gaza
In a modest apartment in Gaza, Hiba Al-Taybi, a young woman in her mid-twenties, sits in front of an old laptop, with tangled cables struggling to keep her connected to the Internet despite frequent outages.
Hiba refused to succumb to the discouraging reality: destroyed schools, closed universities, and a local job market at a near standstill. More than 660,000 children in Gaza have lost access to education for over two years. With unemployment nearing 80%, being jobless has become a familiar reality.
Hiba decided to turn her old laptop and intermittent Internet into a bridge to the outside world. She started offering graphic design and digital marketing services to clients outside Gaza. A small project began with a single email and gradually grew into a portfolio of clients who trust her work. While local markets stalled, her digital skills became invaluable.
Hiba says:
“Working gives me a sense that I still exist, that I can still do something. Every design I create is a message to those who lost hope: we will not give up.”
Sewing on a Bicycle – Unbroken Will in Gaza
Despite the challenges—electricity cuts, delayed responses from clients, limited equipment—her small apartment became an office, and the design sessions were often accompanied by the sounds of explosions outside. Yet Hiba perseveres. Freelancing has restored her sense of control and provided an income, even as the world around her collapses.
This story illustrates that innovation doesn’t always require huge funding—it requires skill, commitment, and a decision not to be a victim of circumstances. The lesson: even if local opportunities are scarce, the digital world can offer a lifeline.
