From Accounting to the Dream Workshop.. Iqbal Shalabi Excels in the Carpentry World

SadaNews - After more than 8 years working in her field of study "Accounting", Iqbal Shalabi from the town of Beitunia in the Ramallah district has carved out another path where she sees her dream.

With confident strides, she moves towards achieving her greater ambition of expanding her workshop and reaching every corner of Palestine.

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The small workshop she opened about a year ago has witnessed a passion that grows day by day, with diligent work on the "Woodworks" project, which commenced after Iqbal gradually purchased carpentry equipment.

Shalabi tells SadaNews that she was not a stranger to the world of work, having previously worked in accounting and project management, and even reached the position of director of an institution, but she had to pause temporarily due to her family responsibilities.

She adds: "When my children grew up a bit, I felt it was time to realize my dream, especially since I have loved woodworking for a long time, and when the opportunity arose, I decided to start."

Step by step, with the support of her family, Iqbal developed her project despite the challenges she faced due to society's perceptions of a woman working in carpentry. However, her determination and the support of her loved ones pushed her to continue, alongside balancing her work and role as a mother.

Starting from "The Lutheran".. The First Step Towards the Dream

Iqbal began her journey with a full training course at the Lutheran School that lasted an entire year, followed by three months of practical training in a carpentry shop, and then a full year of hands-on work in this field. Thanks to this perseverance, she was able to open her own project inside her family's home, dedicating the basement space equipped for work, where she set up the equipment she purchased over the year with her monthly salary.

She states: "Every month, I would buy a small machine with my salary, until I had a nice collection, and then the Lutheran supported me with larger machines, and this is where the real launch began."

A Workshop that Embraces Women

Iqbal participated in several local exhibitions, and there she noticed the significant need for women to have spaces that support them in implementing their ideas, adding: "Many women who prefer to work in carpentry were facing difficulties in practicing the work in carpentry shops, where the workers are mainly men, so my workshop is a space that opens opportunities for those women to experiment and engage in the labor market."

Family Support.. The Secret of Success
Regarding her family's support, she continues: "The presence of my family and children beside me is what kept me going. May God have mercy on my father; he was among my first supporters, always encouraging me to move forward. Today, I am proud that my children are now supporting and helping me in the profession."

She concludes her message to every Palestinian woman who carries a dream by saying: "Start, but what’s important is to have support from family, especially from men, as they are the pillars in facing society; with them, you can break any barrier."
Iqbal spends her working time happily preparing various customer orders, starting from small wooden pieces, up to home decorations that require significant time and effort; while some might consider it hard work, she does not see it that way due to her love for the profession.

This report was produced with the support of the European Union.