Paul Calvert spoke with Maha Ghareeb from Ma'an lil-Hayat, a project of the International Federation of L'Arche Communities

Maha: Of course! Our work here at Ma'an lil-Hayat is the real evidence. What we produce and sell and how we deal with each other is a perfect example that people with disabilities have real abilities and real gifts to share with people.

Paul: How are you funded?

Maha: Through our sales, for example in 2011 we could cover nearly half of our expenses and the rest was donations from other donors.

Paul: You're living by faith really every day?

Maha: Yes we are, but we are Muslims and Christians together, the people with disabilities and the assistants, so we are trying to thank God in general and to pray to God and not for Jesus or Mohammed because as we are with the foundation L'Arche we try to encourage each one to strengthen his or her faith.

Paul: So you are a real example of unity here?

Maha: Yes and we are very glad and very happy. We are 15 people with disabilities: 13 Muslims and two Christians. The assistants we are six: four Christians and two Muslims and for three years we are really living peacefully together, loving each other and looking at each other as human beings and not as Muslims or Christians and not people with disabilities or people without disabilities. We are all living together, working together and loving each other.

Paul: And why do you personally do what you do?

Maha: Simply, I love it! When I enter the workshop here, I just forget all my problems. Each person has personal problems and difficulties; I am like everybody. When I enter the workshop here I feel the peace and I live peacefully. I just forget all the difficulties outside. Dealing with people with mental difficulties is really something very beautiful and I love it. This is the main reason why I am here.

Paul: This really isn't a job, it's actually a calling.

Maha: You can say this, although the assistants we get a salary; not very high salaries, because like all L'Arche communities in the world, part of what we do is to help people and not the financial.

Paul: What's your prayer for disabled people within this community?

Maha: My prayer is that people could really respect people with disabilities more and to be more aware about their abilities and that they are really human beings. That everybody could live with them and be very happy with them and as Jean Vanier our founder said, "L'Arche couldn't be the answer for all the needs, but it can be a sign for the community".

My hope for the future is to expand the workshop, but I know it will not be an answer for all the needs. There are so many people with disabilities in the streets, in the homes doing nothing. We are working with 15 and I am praying that we will be able to open other branches in order to welcome more people, but I know we will not be able to reach everybody. I hope that people in the society will see, will learn how we work and how we love people and they can do the same.

Paul: What is your website for people who would like to know more?

Maha: It's www.maanlilhayat.ps.