Shireen’s Gaza Boutique: Rebuilding with Dignity, Creativity, and Love

Shireen is in her twenties but carries the steady focus of a seasoned businesswoman. When she and her husband Hassim evacuated Gaza in 2024 with their two small boys, they brought only what could fit in their suitcases. The war had taken their home, their community, and many of their loved ones, including Shireen’s brother and sister. 

In Cairo, Shireen began again. She started Gaza Boutique, a small home-based business selling handmade keychains, coasters, and Palestinian artwork. The early months were difficult and sales were slow, but she kept going. Everything began to shift when she connected with SafeGrow, receiving a small no-repayment business grant, marketing mentorship, and help joining a wider bazaar network.

Now, Gaza Boutique is slowly growing. Shireen and Hassim sell pieces that reflect memory and resilience: simple, meaningful items that honor Palestinian culture. They are working to expand their product line, improve packaging, and build relationships with new customers through upcoming bazaars and community markets.

They are still rebuilding. Each week, Shireen and Hassim speak with friends back in Gaza who repeat the same thing: “There’s no way of life here.” Their loss and hope both live in the quiet strength of their partnership; in the way they work side by side, and in the laughter they share as their three-year-old, Aboud, plays nearby.

“I didn’t imagine this life,” Shireen says, but is committed to building a future for her family here in Cairo. With SafeGrow’s help, Shireen and Hassim are finding their rhythm as aspiring entrepreneurs – rebuilding with dignity, creativity, and love. They’re already looking ahead to more bazaars and, one day, to opening a small shop in a Cairo market where Gaza Boutique can stand on its own.