Johnny Hilal Workshop is located in Beit Sahour, a village on the eastern side of Bethlehem. The workshop produces mother-of-pearl and olive wood items. Unstable political conditions, with security roadblocks, curfews and violent destruction, make life and doing business here difficult. The families of Johnny Hilal and a small number of artisan employees depend on proceeds from the sale of the beautiful handicrafts they make, which symbolize the desire for peace, especially in Bethlehem. Foreign markets are a way to maintain sustainable work.

Palestinian artist Johnny Hilal assumed responsibility for his father’s mother-of-pearl and olive wood workshop on his father’s death in 1973. The present workshop was established in 1978.

Ten Thousand Villages purchases olive wood and mother-of-pearl nativities, boxes, pendants and crosses from Johnny Hilal. Ten Thousand Villages has purchased products from Johnny Hilal since 2001.