Ma’an lil-Hayat 

Ornaments, nativity sets, and other gift items from the wool of Bethlehem sheep

Ma’an lil-Hayat (Together for Life) is a wool-felting community project in Palestine. Founded in July 2009, as a local branch of the International Federation of L’Arche Communities, Ma’an lil-Hayat seeks to affirm and empower people with intellectual disabilities.

Meaningful, challenging work encourages a sense of personal responsibility and genuine participation in building civil society. The group learns to work as part of a team, and acquires a greater sense of personal and communal responsibility. The sale of products provides people with intellectual disabilities to receive a weekly salary. In turn, it gives them self-confidence as they become able contribute to the economic support of their family, The work and production at Ma’an lil-Hayat are a means toward the healthy integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the local community, as well as an aid to change the vision of society toward people with disabilities.

In an environment that sometimes looks with disdain on people with intellectual disabilities, Ma’an lil-Hayat celebrates the creativity, transparency and great capacity for joy and important gifts to be shared.