The amazing women of Hebron, Palestine: In Palestine, one can often witness that the disparity between genders is not as marked as in other Arabic countries. However, women are also expected to act in a certain way and respect traditions. That´s why when you come across a family of strong women who have or has had careers in their own right, you want to know more.

Noor, a journalism student at the Excellence Centre, invites us to meet the women of her family. “These are the women who inspired me”, she says, “I would like you to meet them!”. Her grandmother is a poet who wrote various books. She was also a teacher in a local Hebron school. “I studied at a University in Jerusalem and I loved it!” She decided to teach English which she loved but books were always a big passion of hers. “I now have a collection of around 5,000 books in my private library at home. Some of them date back to well before the occupation” We have the privilege to see them. Mostly in Arabic, they are carefully cataloged by theme: Science, Religion, History, Nature and a section of English ones. “I don’t really like novels, I like learning new things when I read.” She tells us.

Noor´s mum is also a teacher at a local school in Hebron´s old city, she tells us “My uncle was a big reader and would insist I read with him and would ask me to read loudly until I go it right!” She drives her own car and leads a very busy life going to work before her children. “It is difficult to combine work and family life, my husband has his own business in which he is very much involved” Her English is very good and she tells us stories of her going to Jerusalem University like her mum but feeling homesick very often! “ I am not the adventurous type really,” she says “My idea of traveling is watching National Geographic. I see beautiful scenery and I am transported to all those places J Rome, Istanbul, Paris ….” Unlike my daughter.

Noor is definitely following on her female models´footsteps. At 17 years old, she does not wear the traditional hijab. She asked to go away to the US and take part in a camp where Palestinians and Jews spend time together: debating and exchanging ideas. “My dad wasn´t bold over by the idea at all but my mum said “Follow your dreams, I support you. I stayed there for 1 month. Before I left my mum took me to the old city (I had never been there, she told me about the history of our City and the current situation so I had something to debate about J. Since I came back, I am definitely more aware of our condition as Palestinians and would like to encourage my friends to also get more interested in their country. We were born unlucky to a certain extent but we have o be smart about it. I feel the youth is only interested in superficial things like their phones or clothes….” Noor studies Sciences and says she needs to spend more time studying in order to get the marks she wants.

We talk politics, they remember voting for Arafat in 1997 but loosing have faith in the system after that. We also talk literature, travels as time goes by very fast around some delicious homemade food. Noor´s mum says “We prefer making our own product that we eat, it is healthier. I don´t like processed or paquet food it isn´t good for the body. “We feel honored to have shared this precious time with these women who went “against the tide” by pursuing their dreams. It gives us hope for the future of this amazing country and its incredible people.