princess half demon

Ekhlas Al-Azzah is a woman of many talents. She is a teacher, a chef, and a painter. And, she does it all in style. While she saves makeup for special occasions, she told me, she refuses to have a bad hair day. Ekhlas was born with muscular atrophy and has spent her entire life in a wheelchair. She lives in Bethlehem’s Al-Azzah camp, named after her family—the smallest Palestinian refugee camp in the world, comprised of a singular 250-meter-long, densely populated street. She makes her living as an Arabic teacher, and I was lucky enough to be one of her students.

For over 30 years, Ekhlas has hosted volunteers from all over the world to provide her the 24-hour care she needs in exchange for language lessons and, more importantly, to spread awareness about Palestine—especially what it means to be a disabled woman living under occupation.

“Life has become increasingly hard during the last year and a half. Especially in my situation,” she wrote. “Resisting the occupation takes a lot of energy.” Ekhlas is hoping for a brief respite through a trip to Europe next month. “My plan is to travel to Germany, Italy, and Spain to visit friends and hold educational events talking about my homeland and my life.”

i   came    FROM   ANOTHER   WORLD     :    a   world  so   different   than  yours  but  i   stayed,  i   thought  of you.   [   i always think of you  ]    I AM STRONG BECAUSE OF YOU.    every  day  , i make a choice : I  CHOOSE  TO BE  KIND,    and   i   DO NOT REGRET IT      [  i  am  a leader. i am a beloved daughter, sister, friend.   ]        I  WILL  NOT WAIVER IN MY COMPASSION .  .  .    (   i am not afraid     :    i  am READY. )