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The Sinsila Project sees Palestinian beekeepers taking over East Jerusalem rooftops

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“This work with bees and gardens gives the women, most of whom are married and unemployed, courage and an abundance of professional, interactive skills,” concluded Tariq Nassar.

By Anjuman Rahman
MEMO
Nov 28, 2021
(Must see. Mike)

Excerpt:

Rooftops in occupied East Jerusalem are being used by Palestinian women for innovative beekeeping and gardening to combat the challenges of life in the cramped, cobbled neighbourhoods of the Old City. With unemployment and poverty rates surging due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Sinsila Project, founded by Tariq Nassar, is providing women with hydroponic rooftop gardening systems which offer more than the potential for a badly-needed source of income. For Palestinians, agriculture plays a unique role in their life, being tied to their history, identity and self-expression; it drives the struggle against Israel’s Separation (“Apartheid”) Wall.

“As I’d take walks around the neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem, I observed straight away the lack of green open spaces and at the same time I noticed a lot of empty roofs,” explained Nassar. “It was during the lockdown; people made use of their roofs to go for a walk because the streets here are overcrowded and so it was unsafe.”

This observation led the 37-year-old architect to brainstorm how the unused or underused roofs of thousands of buildings in East Jerusalem could be used for well-planned gardening. This would not only be decorative, but also play a vital role in the preservation of nature.

Read the complete article here.