In honor of Arab Mother’s Day, guest blogger and UNRWA USA’s Director of Philanthropy Hani Almadhoun writes a poem for the mothers of Gaza, and shares insight on what this day means for Palestine refugee mothers in Gaza and how you can honor the leading women in your life.

Khalil Gibran once said, “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls,” and Malak Mattar - like many Palestine refugees is no exception to this strength. Malak takes the ugly and transforms it into beauty; she views the destruction surrounding her hometown and creates masterpieces.

Malak is a 20-year-old artist and Palestine refugee from the Gaza Strip. Surviving repetitive Israeli military assaults on the strip, she began painting as a form of coping and self-expression. Painting became her emotional release, and helped her cope with fear, anxiety, and distress. Malak’s story and Picasso-like style of paintings have gained her worldwide recognition. Her work has been featured in exhibitions in Spain, Turkey, Costa Rica, India, and the United States. We had a chance to speak to Malak during her latest US tour. She told us about her upbringing, art inspiration and challenges faced by young women artists in Gaza.