Shaaban Hammouda holds the handlebar of his bicycle, with one hand, and holds the other with a tray on which he placed cups of coffee, and then maneuvered between the vehicles to deliver them to his customers, in the first delivery service provided by a café in Rafah, in the poor and besieged Gaza Strip.
Hammouda, 31, who holds a university degree in business administration, established a small booth to sell hot drinks, in the middle of the central Rafah Market, located between the city and its refugee camp.
In the kiosk, which holds the owner's first name, you find a stove of fire, a number of pots, glass cups and hundreds of cups made of cardboard, and on a wooden shelf put Hamouda coffee, tea and mint boxes to prepare drinks.
Hammouda, the father of two children, receives customer requests via the WhatsApp application while sitting behind a small office in the cafe. Then he processes the orders and he or one of his nine employees delivers them free of charge to bicycle customers.
The coffee shop owner notes that "some customers' shops are not more than two kilometers from the market."
“I worked in a café inside the market to deliver drinks to customers, but my wages were not enough to pay the rent for the apartment, or to buy food and drink for my family,” Hammouda says.
He added, "I decided to start an independent project to establish a café, and it was characterized by the delivery of requests to wheels (bicycles)." He added, "Work ends frustration."
Hammouda opens the café daily from five in the morning, and busy him and his staff in preparing and delivering drinks until midnight.
In addition to delivering orders by bicycle, Hammouda places small tables and chairs in front of the cafe, in response to the desire of some customers who are passers-by who prefer to sit.
This delivery service is new in the Gaza Strip, and Hammouda says: "People love everything new ... I have been encouraged by many."
But he points to the effect of the "Corona virus" somewhat, in recent weeks, and the reduction of salaries, but overall the sale is good. "
About 23,000 employees from the Gaza Strip were affected by the financial crisis and the difficult economic situation facing the government, which increased the spread of the Corona virus from its size, as they only finally received half the value of their salaries.
Unemployment challenge
Ali Abu Jayab (25 years old), poverty prevented him from completing his education, and today he works with Hammouda to deliver drinks on his bicycle, after he was a client of the cafe.
"I use wheels, moving around is easier and faster, and it is also a fun and inexpensive sport," said the young man, "The idea is beautiful and people love it."
Abu Jayab complains that the economic situation is "very difficult" in the sector, and he adds: "There is no work and no hope for the youth, we must challenge unemployment and frustration."
And the unemployment rate in the besieged sector increases for more than a decade, to exceed 50% and 70% among the youth, according to the statistics of the Hamas government in Gaza.
The smell of coffee
Sameh Gouda, a young man who was not a fan of coffee, owns a perfume and incense store in the central Rafah market, but the smell of coffee that smells on the market from Hammouda Cafe made him change his mind.
Joudeh, 25, has become a café customer. He says: “Since Hammouda opened the café, the aroma of coffee attracted me, and every week I started buying a small cup of coffee. Now I buy one or two cups daily.”
And the young man adds: "A wonderful and new praise idea. I send my order to him via WhatsApp. With lightning speed, the drink comes hot. This is new for us and a fan." A boy who was buying the perfume boycotted him, saying: "A remarkable idea. Young people can create ideas that help them find a livelihood so they can live, despite frustration, poverty and unemployment."
Hammoudeh: "People love everything new ... It has received encouragement from many."
Abujayyab: “There is no work and no hope for young people.”