הכירו את האמניות
LINA OTOM JAK AGOLON
Lina is married with four children. She has great artistic talent. At Kuchinate, she knits carpets and baskets and is responsible for developing new products and arranging and designing the store.
"I have lived in Israel for over 10 years. I live on Mount Zion Boulevard in a two-room apartment. My four children sleep in one room, I live in the living room, and my husband is on the balcony. I arrived at Kuchinate in 2013 and could not work, because in 2011, after southern Sudan declared independence, Israel decided that the Sudanese should return to Sudan by force. My little girl had to have a dental operation, and because I had an appointment for surgery, I received a special note from the Interior Ministry. I never left my apartment without carrying the note in my hand, and because of this note, I was always able to slip by. I never had to go back to Sudan. My husband and children hid in the apartment and my husband only went out to work at night time. My friends who were forced back to Sudan are now in refugee camps in Uganda and Egypt with their children."
EDEN GEBRE
Eden came to Israel in 2012 from Eritrea. She is married and mother of 3 children, all of whom were born in Israel. Eden arrived to Kuchinate in 2017 after a serious illness and having undergone a liver transplant.
Before Kuchinate, Eden had never crocheted or had experience in handicrafts. It was only at Kuchinate that she discovered her great talent for handicrafts. As part of her role, Eden held the responsibility for quality control and teaching new women the craft of crocheting. She especially likes working with the women on the quality of the products. She has a strict and precise eye and will not accept a basket that does not meet her high standards
"Because of my health, I was in a difficult situation, and I couldn't do jobs like cleaning. Asylum seekers don't have office jobs, so at that time I was very worried that I wouldn't have a job at all. When I found Kuchinate and the crochet work, I said to myself, here I can do something that I am good at and I can make a living from it”
TAGASTI (TITI) KOFLO
Titi came to Israel in 2010 from Eritrea with her 3-year-old child. Her husband was waiting for them in Israel. Once in Israel, she had 4 more children.
"Their father was a teacher in Eritrea, but in Israel he can only be a cleaner.”
Before Kuchinate, she worked in cleaning. Titi loves her family, and she dreams of leaving Israel to a better country that can give her and her children a good future and jobs.
YERUSALEM ARAYA
Yerusalem arrived in Israel in 2010, and has been with Kuchinate since 2019. After spending time as Manager of Shipping & Orders, she became the Director of our Sewing Department.
“It’s a little difficult being a manager. You need to think in a new way. But I’ve always wanted something new, to teach and to learn new things… Now, I teach women how to sew. It makes me proud of myself.”
She lives in Tel Aviv with her six-year-old son. “He’s my life. Whenever I see him, it gives me power.” Yerusalem’s dreams for the future are to learn how to sew everything she can, and to be in a better place for herself and her son.
“All of us have difficult lives. I want people to know that if they help Kuchinate, they’re helping so many women.”
SHEWIT GEBREAMLEK
Shewit came to Israel from Eritrea in 2012 and heard about Kuchinate in 2014 after an injury. Shewit fully immersed herself in the world of Kuchinate in 2021 as she loved the environment.
Shewit applies herself fully to her work and her family. At Kuchinate, she loves creating pieces and strives for perfection with every product she creates. While key chains are her most favorite pieces to make, Shewit prides herself on the skills she’s learned through Kuchinate such as managerial, sewing, and crocheting.
Shewit has 2 children who give her immense joy and pride. Her son has taken to sewing and loves coming to Kuchinate with her. Kuchinate has not only given Shewit a job, it has also created a home for her and her children.
BRKTI SOMON YOUHANES
Brkti has been at Kuchinate since 2019 and held the position of managing all upcycled products, including the production processes and quality control. Brkti is married with three children. Her dream is to build a bright future for herself and her children.
“I love kuchinate, it's everything to me. It's our home. We don't have family here, we don’t have a place here. These are my sisters.”
אכברת הגיעה מאריתריאה והיא אם יחידנית ל-3 ילדים: נער בן 14 שנשאר באיתריאה ושתי בנות (7.5 ו-6) שנולדו בישראל.
אכברת הצטרפה לקוצ'ינטה ב-2011. היא עובדת בניקיון במהלך היום, ובלילות, כשבנותיה ישנות, היא יוצרת סלים נהדרים עם ציורי חיות ופרחים. "אני אוהבת מוסיקה ואני אוהבת לשבת ולסרוג. זה מרגיע אותי."
הסלים של אכברת הוצגו בטובי המוזיאונים בישראל: במוזיאון העיצוב בחולון, מוזיאון חיפה לאמנות וגם בגלריות שונות בארץ ובעולם, ביניהם גלריה רונלד פלדמן בניו יורק. בסלים שהיא סורגת היא מתארת את המסע הקשה שעברה בסיני ואת סיפורה האישי
