LocationsIlham’s Recipe for Resilience: Fayrouziyat Kitchen
April 17, 2026
Worsening socio-economic conditions in the West Bank—particularly in northern areas—have placed increasing pressure on micro and small enterprises (MSEs), which serve as a critical backbone of local economies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. These deepening challenges have made it increasingly urgent to strengthen livelihoods and enhance the resilience of these enterprises, particularly for the most vulnerable groups, including women-headed households, persons with disabilities, and small business owners.
In response to these challenges, the United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), through the Investment Programme for Resilience (IPR), funded by the Government of Germany through its Development Bank KfW, provides targeted support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives, particularly those led by women or employing a high proportion of women. The programme aims to support sustainable livelihoods and strengthen economic resilience in marginalized areas by offering a combination of financial and technical assistance, enabling these enterprises to grow, adapt, and sustain their operations over time.
A Story of Challenge and Hope: The Beginnings of Fayrouziyat Kitchen
Among these inspiring initiatives, the story of 'Fayrouziyat Kitchen' unfolds in the northern West Bank. This home-based enterprise began as a modest effort to secure a basic livelihood and gradually evolved into a source of resilience and dignity for one Palestinian woman and her family. The story takes us to the town of Ya’bad in the Jenin Governorate, where Ilham Amarna, a 54-year-old mother of five, experienced a sudden shift in her life following the loss of her husband due to illness. Faced with increasing responsibilities and the absence of a stable income, she found herself at a difficult crossroads—either to be overwhelmed by loss, or to attempt, with very limited means, to rebuild a source of livelihood for her children.
Ilham recalls:
“The idea of Fayrouziyat Kitchen came during the hardest time of my life — after my husband passed away and we had no source of income. I had several young children and no capital or resources. I felt I had to do something, to try — so I started the project as an experiment with extremely limited means, just to see if we could make it work.”
Ilham uses a simple plastic table outside her house to market her products to those walking by.
Starting from the Scratch
The journey began literally from scratch. The only available space was her small kitchen with unpaved flooring and crumbling walls — and no proper equipment. Ilham would wake up before sunrise to prepare and bake pastries, which she sold to school children for low prices. To encourage them, she even ran simple promotions, such as giving one free piece with every purchase.
Over time, the customer base grew. Schools and kindergartens started ordering from Ilham for open days and group breakfasts. She proudly remembers her first order outside the town — a Yalanji (stuffed grape leaves) meal requested by university students in Nablus. Though the order brought little profit, it gave her hope and proof that her idea had potential.
To reach more customers, Ilham began participating in food tasting exhibitions in cities like Jenin and Nablus. These events connected her with new audiences who admired her products. Some restaurants and hotels even approached her with offers to work as a specialist chef, particularly for her famous Kibbeh — a moment of pride for her.
Ilham Amarna, participating in an exhibition in Nablus city to market her products.
The Dream Is Becoming a Reality
Over time, Fayrouziyat Kitchen found its way into many homes across Palestine. Ilham was able to open a small restaurant next to her house, bearing the same name as her original street stall. She and her family now run a small, established business that serves customers in Ya'bad, Jenin, and Nablus.
"There are a few dishes that define our kitchen," Ilham explains, "especially the Makdous, which earned a certificate from the Nutrition Unit at Birzeit University; our Kibbeh; and our Zalabia, a traditional sweet passed down through generations, especially popular in winter."
Ilham dreams of opening branches of her kitchen in other Palestinian cities — and perhaps even abroad. She also has development plans for her current location. Despite the limited space, she hopes to transform it into a social and recreational venue by adding games to attract youth and create a warm, family-friendly environment.
“We now have a daily source of income. I was able to enroll my children in universities — all thanks to the proceeds from our kitchen” Ilham says
The Investment Programme for Resilience support through ESDC
Despite her progress, Ilham continues to face challenges and needs support to sustain and grow her business. To help overcome these obstacles, she applied to the project "Empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth in Jenin Governorate," led by the Economic and Social Development Center of Palestine (ESDC).
This project is part of the Investment Programme for Resilience (IPR), implemented by UNDP and funded by the German government through KfW Development Bank.
Through this initiative, Ilham received essential kitchen equipment and intensive entrepreneurship training, including sessions on pricing, marketing, and business development — provided by ESDC.
Ilham Amarna, the woman behind Fayrouziyat Kitchen, transformed her home-based food business with support from the programme. The equipment she received — including a modern oven, mixer, ice-cream machine, and food preparation tools — helped her speed up production and start making new products she was previously unable to produce due to the lack of proper equipment.
With the new tools, she managed to reduce her manual workload and significantly cut down on gas consumption compared to her old oven. As a result, Ilham was able to serve more customers and grow her income by 40%, as she reports. She expects even greater demand during the upcoming Ramadan season and has already started considering hiring new workers to help her meet increasing demand.
Ilham has also expanded her customer base beyond Jenin, now serving clients in other governorates. Combined with expert-led training in marketing and packaging, the support provided her with the tools and confidence to expand her reach, improve her product quality, and strengthen her role as a female entrepreneur within her community.
“The equipment I received has helped me speed up production and reduce the time spent on manual food preparation, allowing me to serve more customers efficiently. The new oven, in particular, uses much less gas than my old one. Combined with the expert-led trainings in marketing and packaging, this support will truly help me grow my business.” – Ilham Amarna, Fayrouziyat Kitchen
Fayrouziyat Kitchen currently serves between 20 to 40 people daily, as Ilham mentions, depending on the nature of events and occasions. She hopes this number will increase over time as equipment improves and working conditions become better.
The cozy restaurant Ilham opened beside her house.
A Message to Every Woman
Ilham sends a heartfelt message to every woman, especially those who have lost the main provider for the family
“Don’t wait for help. Don’t assume you have no talent. Think, try, and start. Even if you begin with nothing — you can build something meaningful. Don’t fear failure, and don’t just copy others. Find your own strength and uniqueness.”
Ilham’s story is a living example of perseverance, a love for life, and the power of family and community support. Fayrouziyat Kitchen stands today as a testament to the fact that passion, resilience, and teamwork can indeed lead to success.
