Enas Al-Ghoul () is a Palestinian agricultural engineer specializing in

rural development Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life, quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Often, rural regions have experienced rural povert ...

and environmental initiatives in the

Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip, also known simply as Gaza, is a small territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank, that make up the State of Palestine. I ...

. Her work includes creating projects focused on recycling waste materials and developing

solar-powered Solar power, also known as solar electricity, is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Solar panels use the photovoltaic effect to conve ...

devices to address water and energy challenges during humanitarian crises.

Career

In 2020, Al-Ghoul started a project called "Ibra wa Sinara" ("Needle and Thread"), focusing on recycling waste materials such as fabric, leather, wood, and metal. The project employed five women, including two with hearing disabilities. It produced items such as clothing, bags, and furniture. This initiative was based on her research, which highlighted textile and leather waste as the most prevalent types of waste in the

. She promoted environmental awareness and recycling through community workshops and training sessions. In 2023, she expanded her recycling efforts by introducing additional training programs and community meetings aimed at women in rural areas. The workshops taught participants about recycling techniques and the associated environmental benefits. She faced logistical challenges, such as limited electricity availability in Gaza, which restricted her operations to the hours when power was accessible. Following the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, Al-Ghoul developed a solar-powered

desalination Desalination is a process that removes mineral components from saline water. More generally, desalination is the removal of salts and minerals from a substance. One example is Soil salinity control, soil desalination. This is important for agric ...

device using simple materials such as wood, glass, and

tarpaulin A tarpaulin ( , ) or tarp is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with polyurethane, or made of plastics such as polyethylene. Tarpaulins often have reinf ...

. The device was designed to convert seawater into

drinkable water Drinking water or potable water is water that is safe for ingestion, either when drunk directly in liquid form or consumed indirectly through food preparation. It is often (but not always) supplied through taps, in which case it is also called ...

, addressing the scarcity of clean water caused by the destruction of infrastructure in

Khan Yunis Khan Yunis (), also spelled Khan Younis or Khan Yunus, is a city in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, and serves as the capital of the Khan Yunis Governorate. It has been largely destroyed during the Gaza war. Before the 14th century, Khan Y ...

. She also created a solar-powered cooker and continued to produce items from recycled materials to support displaced individuals. In December 2024, she was listed on the

BBC 100 Women ''100 Women'' is a BBC multi-format series established in 2013. The annual series examines the role of women in the 21st century and has included events in London and Mexico. Announcement of the list is the start of an international "BBC's wome ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:al ghoul, enas Living people Date of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) 21st-century Palestinian women 21st-century Palestinian people 21st-century women engineers Agricultural engineers Palestinian engineers