We are a small, volunteer-led group based in the West of Scotland. Non-sectarian and non-political, we work to raise awareness of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and support people and communities most in need.
Our work is guided by four simple principles: BUY, SELL, TELL and GIVE.
How Olive Tree began
Olive Tree began in 2004, when Juliet and Don Robb and their daughter-in-law Erica visited Jerusalem, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the conflict in Palestine.
While sitting on the terrace of St Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Jerusalem, they spoke with the church’s then minister, Reverend C. Musgrave. He challenged them with a simple question:
‘Don’t be content with just seeing the problems. What are you going to do about them?’
And so, the idea for Olive Tree was born. We would BUY Palestinian crafts, SELL them locally, TELL the Palestinian story and GIVE all proceeds to support people in need in Palestine.
Turning that idea into reality took the generosity and commitment of like-minded friends, who helped get the project off the ground.
Building connections in Palestine
In the early days, sourcing suitable products was an adventure. Erica returned to Jerusalem with the task of finding Palestinian crafts that could provide a meaningful source of income for local families and communities.
With time and invaluable advice from people on the ground, we established relationships with trusted suppliers. Today, our products include ceramics from Hebron, olive wood crafts from a fair-trade cooperative in Bethlehem, traditional embroidery from disadvantaged villages, felt products from the L’Arche community in Bethlehem, and silver jewellery from Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We also sourced olive oil from Taybeh, now replaced by products from Zaytoun.
Working with a reliable coordinator in Bethlehem helped bring our growing network of suppliers together. From the outset, we have believed that personal connections matter. Members of our group have been fortunate enough to visit suppliers and the projects we support, strengthening the relationships at the heart of our work.
Growing our impact
We started small, selling at church stalls and coffee mornings. Over the years, Olive Tree has grown into a dedicated steering group of nine volunteers, supported by a wider network of loyal supporters.
Today, we hold around 50 stalls each year, bringing Palestinian crafts to communities across Scotland. Many of our original supplier relationships remain strong, and our work continues to grow.
Thanks to the generosity of our customers and supporters, we are now able to donate thousands of pounds each year. While we know that this can never meet the scale of the need, every contribution makes a difference.
Our donations have helped fund school fees for families facing poverty, medical and dental treatment, computers, wheelchairs and skills training. We also support special-needs centres and make regular donations to organisations including Medical Aid for Palestine and Embrace.
Telling the Palestinian story
Raising awareness is just as important as raising funds. Through talks, events and presentations, we aim to help people better understand the lives and experiences of Palestinians and the challenges facing communities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
We have welcomed speakers from organisations including Tent of Nations, the Hebron International Resources Network (HIRN) and Caritas Jerusalem, helping to bring Palestinian experiences and perspectives to a wider audience.
Buy. Sell. Tell. Give.
At the heart of Olive Tree is a simple belief: that small actions, taken together, can make a meaningful difference.
By buying Palestinian products, supporting local sales and events, sharing stories and directing proceeds to those in need, we hope to build understanding, sustain livelihoods and offer practical support to Palestinian families and communities.
Every purchase, every conversation and every donation helps us continue this work.
