Rooted in Love: A Mother-Daughter Reflection on Palestine and Purpose
A reflection from UNRWA USA’s Zaina Dana, Development Officer, and Rania Qawasma, UNRWA USA Refugee Advisory Council member (UURAC).
This Mother’s Day, we spoke with our own Zaina Dana and her mother, Rania Qawasma—a third-generation Palestine refugee and architect—about how growing up in Palestine and the diaspora has shaped their identities, ambitions, and bond.
Rania grew up in the occupied West Bank and attended UNRWA schools in Al-Khalil. Her grandparents were forcibly expelled from their homes in Ramleh and Jerusalem, leading her family to endure multiple waves of displacement. Today, she designs affordable housing in Seattle and Boston and serves on the UNRWA USA Refugee Advisory Council (UURAC). Her daughter, Zaina, now works in Philadelphia as UNRWA USA’s Development Officer.
Read on for reflections from two generations of Palestinian women—and the wisdom they’ve shared and gained through each other.
As a mother and daughter, how have your experiences growing up Palestinian shaped you—and what lessons have stayed with you along the way?
Rania:
Despite all the struggles that come with living under military occupation, I feel blessed to have been raised in Palestine. My upbringing was shaped by my parents, grandparents, and generations of Palestinian wisdom and love.
I have many beautiful memories of my kids. One of my favorites is of my daughter, Zaina and my son, Qais picking fruit from my family’s land with my father. On one of our trips to Palestine—Qais’s first trip as a baby—just after we arrived at my family’s home and exchanged long-awaited hugs and kisses, the kids ran off to explore my parents’ vineyard and orchard.
Holding my father’s hands, the three of them walked together into the orchard. Knowing that photos could never do these moments justice, I still followed them and captured pictures to commemorate that precious day.
The biggest challenge of being a Palestinian mother raising children in the diaspora is trying to bring Palestine to my kids so they can experience it.
It is the mothers, grandmothers, aunties, cousins, neighbors, and more whose presence I feel I must try to embody, just to give my children a small taste of our Palestinian traditions and inherited wisdom.
Zaina:
My mother taught me to stay rooted even when it’s hard.
Growing up, we rarely had the money to afford to visit our family back in Palestine. I know it took a huge toll on my mother being away from her parents and extended family. Despite the challenges, she always made sure that every summer we would pack our bags, fly into Amman, and cross the border into Palestine on foot.
Being West Bank residents meant the entire journey—from the Jordanian border to our family’s home—could take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours under sweltering heat. Imagine doing that every year with two kids and eight suitcases stuffed with gifts for all our cousins. Thankfully, as my brother and I got older, we were able to pull a little more weight.
But at the end of the day, sitting under my grandfather’s vineyard in Al-Khalil, quietly watching him meticulously test each bundle of grapes for ripeness, it all felt worth it. We were home. My mother taught me that some things in life are worth the headache, the inconvenience, even the violence—and Palestine is one of them.
How has UNRWA and UNRWA USA—and your relationship with each other—shaped your ambitions and sense of purpose?
Rania:
I was a child attending UNRWA schools when I first realized I wanted to be an architect. I wanted to design and build homes for my people, especially my grandparents, who were forcibly displaced from historic Palestine. My teacher, Rasha, encouraged me to sketch and draw homes, helping me imagine and dream about what “home” truly means to me.
My aunt, an UNRWA school teacher, took me with her every day, walking through the refugee camp and talking to people along the way. These daily experiences shaped my dream and my path toward becoming an architect.
Zaina:
My first time coming into contact with UNRWA USA was actually through my mom! She participated in the Relay Run for Refugees back in 2019 while I was still a student. Against her wishes I hopped on a bus to NYC after class and met up with the group as they drove (and ran!) back down to Philadelphia.
While there, I met my future colleague Laila Mokhiber—and her younger (now famous!) brother, Anees. I was so proud of my mother, not only for being such a dedicated runner (at the time, I couldn’t imagine running more than a mile myself), but for being the fiercest, most dedicated advocate for Palestinians I know.
She taught me that even if you don’t have the millions of dollars you wish you could give to support Palestine refugees, you can still dedicate every moment of your life to fighting for what you believe in: the rights, dignity, and humanity of Palestinians everywhere.
Rania:
As a parent, I always hoped to inspire my children to live a life of purpose and service—especially to our people—but I also wanted them to shape their own path and follow their passion.
Every day, I see the impact of Zaina’s hard work and her deep commitment to helping Palestine refugees. Over the past 16 months, like many others, I’ve often felt helpless—not knowing what to do to support our people in Gaza. But I’ve watched Zaina work tirelessly and passionately every single day especially on the Gaza 5K, rallying the entire UNRWA USA team to bring aid and mental health support to children in Gaza. I am the proudest mama!
🏃🏽♀️ If Zaina and her mother Rania’s story moved you, join them at the next Gaza 5K! Your steps will help provide life-saving mental health support for refugees in Gaza. Be part of this powerful moment of community—on May 31st in Washington DC or virtually from anywhere in the world.