Building Community through Creation and Cultural Resistance in Mississauga

A new kind of cultural space is taking root in our city, and it is one that blends Arab heritage, art, and community-building in the most intimate and intentional ways.

This is FannWaQahwa — “Art and Coffee” in Arabic — a grassroots initiative led by a Sudanese-Egyptian creative, Yasmeen who has turned her love for painting, heritage, and creating into a vibrant, healing space for women and families across the GTA

From Side Hobbies to a Cultural Movement

What started in 2020 as a side hustle of custom paintings and Arabic calligraphy commissions, soon transformed into something far more layered. Yaseem shares her story of how FannWaQahwa came to life. 

After experimenting with workshops among friends, she found overwhelming interest and curiosity from her community. Within a year, she had launched public workshops — not only in painting and calligraphy, but in Tatreez, the traditional Palestinian art of embroidery.

And it wasn’t just the stitching that drew her in, but instead it was the meaning behind it.

“The Palestinian fight for liberation is something that will never be forgotten, and I want to play my role in ensuring that it never will be — through art and creation.”

 

As she began to learn Tatreez, she dove beyond the surface and studied the motifs, their origin, and their cultural weight as tools of resistance; Symbols that carry geographic memory within every thread. 

“One motif might tell you someone is from Gaza, another from Hebron or Haifa. Every stitch is a political, historical, and personal testament to their family's history. To understand that even one motif identifies each city in Palestine... that’s so beautiful. And to share this rich history with the community is an honour.”

 

A Space Rooted in Care

Born and raised in Mississauga, she noticed something missing; Safe, accessible spaces where women could gather for cultural experiences without being pushed into uncomfortable, alcohol-centered environments.

So she created one herself.

“Whether you’re Christian, Muslim or Jewish, this space is meant to welcome women from all different walks of life, who maybe just want to go out and do an activity without indulging and being in uncomfortable settings.”

Her workshops have welcomed participants as young as five years old, creating intergenerational bridges through art, storytelling, and shared cultural memory. Every one of Yasmeen's services is tied to something deeper, exploring our identity, belonging, and homes in each workshop.

More Than Just a Workshop

Every piece she makes, whether commissioned art or part of a group activity, is treated with reverence. She refuses to mass-produce prints, instead focusing on individual, meaningful creations that hold personal stories.

“My goal was always to create pieces that were meaningful for people... I want to ensure everything I create is purposeful and unique to my clients.”

 

This guiding philosophy has made FannWaQahwa not just a small business, but a movement of cultural remembrance layered with purpose.

Reconnecting Through Creation

At its heart, FannWaQahwa is a response to erasure. It’s about reclaiming space; for Arab women, for artists, for diasporic voices, for those whose homelands are often reduced to headlines. In a world that often tries to fragment us, FannWaQahwa is stitching our stories back together by listening to our community.

“My intention with these workshops was always about bringing people together — reconnecting our community through a shared love of art, history, and creating.”

 

Want to Join?

Follow @fannwaqahwa on Instagram to find upcoming workshops, events, and cultural markets in the GTA, and here at Sitti Hub.