Ramallah / PNN / Wisal Abu Alia –
The roots of the story begin in the village of Aboud, northwest of Ramallah, where stone houses preserve family memories and where Haneen Hamid embarked on a journey that has become one of the most compelling stories of rural empowerment. Raised in a family that cherished traditional cooking, Haneen grew up believing that her grandmothers’ recipes were an essential part of identity, not to be compromised. The aroma of sumac, local za’atar and freshly baked bread drifting from her family kitchen became her first classroom.

As she grew older, Haneen watched her mother and grandmother turn food into a story and into a space that brought the family together. Gradually, cooking ceased to be a household task or a secondary skill; it became a deeply rooted passion and a sense of responsibility to revive and protect a heritage at risk of fading away.

Founding “Al-Khteyara Kitchen”: From a Small Dream to a Local Brand

“From this deep connection to heritage, the idea of Al-Khteyara Kitchen was born,” Haneen Hamid said. The project did not start easily. It began in a modest home kitchen, with limited resources and strong determination that authenticity could prevail despite difficult circumstances. She started by preparing traditional dishes such as maftoul, mujaddara, homemade pastries and ka’ak. Over time, demand for her products steadily increased.

The project’s early success rested on two main factors: an authentic taste that revived memories of old homes, and the trust Haneen built within the local community.

With the support of village women who joined her team, Haneen said the project evolved into a women-led workspace based on cooperation, learning and continuous development. Al-Khteyara Kitchen became a model for a heritage-based initiative operating with a contemporary spirit, reflecting Palestinian women’s efforts to change their own realities and those of their communities through productive and sustainable work.

Managing With a New Vision: Developing Recipes and Expanding Reach

Haneen proved not only to be a skilled cook but also a capable leader. She organised production and developed a plan to refine recipes in line with market needs without compromising authenticity. She introduced improvements to some dishes and created new combinations blending Palestinian flavours with modern touches, giving her products a distinctive edge.

She also placed strong emphasis on marketing, developing a simple visual identity for the kitchen, expanding delivery options and engaging with community events through bazaars and local activities. Over time, the project became a recognised destination for those seeking traditional dishes with their original flavour.

Expanding Into Traditional Dairy and Cheese Production

As demand grew and customer trust deepened, Haneen took a pivotal step in developing her business by expanding into traditional home-style dairy and cheese production. Using local milk, she began producing Arabic cheese, pressed labneh and jameed.

This expansion was not merely an addition to the product list but a qualitative leap that elevated the project and opened new opportunities for diversification and distribution. Haneen saw dairy products not only as part of cultural heritage but as daily food staples that the project could provide with high quality and authentic taste.

She said making traditional cheese requires “hands that know the way,” stressing that preserving the original flavour is the secret to success. For that reason, she closely monitors quality, develops safe production methods and maintains the traditional character that distinguishes village products.

Growing Social Impact: Empowering Rural Women and Preserving Food Identity

Haneen’s project has become more than a business or a home-based initiative; it has evolved into a platform for women’s empowerment and an economic lifeline for many village women. It has provided flexible job opportunities for homemakers seeking income without leaving their families, while helping pass traditional skills from one generation to the next.

Al-Khteyara Kitchen has become a space where younger generations learn the meaning of belonging to land and food, and how rural women can be agents of development, guardians of identity and drivers of the local economy.

Through Haneen’s experience, the village has demonstrated that small projects can create real change, and that when Palestinian women are given the opportunity, they become productive and inspiring forces.

A Vision for the Future

Today, Haneen is moving confidently toward transforming her project into a widely recognised Palestinian food brand. She aims to launch a dedicated production line under the name “Al-Khteyara” for dairy products, cheeses and traditional foods, and hopes to participate in national and international exhibitions to showcase village products carrying the flavour of Palestinian land and its rich heritage.

Haneen Hamid is not simply a woman who cooks; she is a story of perseverance and a reflection of rural women who know how to turn heritage into work, work into success, and success into an impact that benefits family, community and homeland.

This story was prepared and produced as part of the “Steps” project, funded by the European Union.