Ancient Gaza monastery restored by unemployed young Palestinians
For the third year in a row, a Palestinian team under French supervision works on the restoration of St. Hilarion Monastery in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On a school trip in 2010, Naama al-Sawarka visited the St. Hilarion Monastery, which dates back to 329 and is located in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
The site was abandoned and the other students did not like the place, but Sawarka said she loved it immensely. “I left part of my heart there,” she told Al-Monitor.
As soon as she finished high school Sawarka searched for a major that would allow her to work in archaeology. She opted for history and archaeology at the Islamic University of Gaza — a choice that earned her criticism from her community because this major is seen as more suitable for men.
“I am a Bedouin girl, and my society believes it is unacceptable to work in a mixed place and handling hammers and stones is just for men,” she said.
