Hanein's Story

Hanein is 18. She is from a refugee camp in Jericho in the West Bank and lives in a two bedroomed house with eight family members. Her father tries to support the family by selling kitchen utensils. Her mother is unable to work as she is seriously ill with cancer. Hanein regularly accompanies her mother when she goes for treatment in Jerusalem, but it is a long and arduous journey involving a number of checkpoints.

Hanein joined the East Jerusalem YMCA’s Vocational Training Centre in Jericho last year because she wants to learn a vocation in order to be self-sufficient. She is studying office equipment maintenance and graphic design. Hanein finds it difficult to cope with her mother’s illness, but she is benefiting from one to one psychosocial counselling, which is offered by the centre. Despite her difficult family circumstances, Hanein is trying to stay positive and is looking for a better future for herself and her family.