WUNRN
Israel - Bedouin Women of the Negev
Desert - Sidreh Women's Program - Many Villages "Unrecognized"-
Poverty - Patriarchy - Weaving Builds Women's Empowerment
Around
190,000 Bedouins live in extremely precarious and challenging conditions in the
Established in
1998, Sidreh is a non-profit organization, whose
mission
is to support the
Bedouin woman in the
realization of
herself and her rights as well as of those of her community.
We envision a
society in which the Bedouin woman has full ownership over herself
and her decisions,
fully enjoys her rights, enjoys safety and stability, feels pride
regarding her
cultural heritage and realizes her place as an active member in her
society.
We see the
empowerment of women as a strategic goal for the sustainable
development of
local Bedouin communities in the
Sidreh focuses its work on 4 main strategic objectives:
* Access to knowledge: Improving educational levels of
Bedouin women
* Access to resources: Increasing income of Bedouin women Empowerment
and participation: Improving the social position of
Bedouin women
* Promoting sustainable community development:
professionalization,
institutional strengthening and sustainability
International Recognition
Sidreh
is pleased to announce Executive Director, Khadra Elsaneh as an award recipient
of
The International
2012.
Each year, TIAW recognizes extraordinary women and men from around the
world
who have contributed to the economic empowerment and advancement of
women
in society and business. TIAW will be recognizing award recipients at the World
of
Difference Awards Dinner being held October 18, 2012 as part of the TIAW Global
Forum
at the Canadian Embassy in
Why is our work important?
Around
190,000 Bedouins live in extremely precarious and challenging conditions in the
services.
Bedouin localities make up 6 out of the 7 poorest localities in the country,
and
their
unemployment rates are by far the highest in the country, reaching up to 80% in
many villages.
Within
this challenging environment, Bedouin women are further restrained by
patriarchal
social norms. Only 11% have completed high school and there is still a 61%
high
school dropout rate among Bedouin girls, indicating both cultural and ingrained
institutional
barriers to gaining an education. In addition, approximately 90% of
Bedouin women are unemployed, while 40% live in polygamous marriages.
Lack
of political representation and access to public decision-making affects women
in
particular.
Endemic barriers to equal participation in the public sphere have threatened
the
personal status and security of women and led to widespread economic stagnation
among
this group. Official policies including home demolitions are causing additional
economic
and emotional stress. Such policies perpetuate the problems on the ground
and prevent immediate needs from being adequately met.
Major Achievements
* Sidreh developed a successful model
that empowers women, by becoming local
leaders
and advocators of their own rights. This model has proved effective in
working
with challenging communities, while gaining support from local
organizations.
* More than 2,000 adult women can read
and write thanks to our literacy program.
* More than 60 adult women have
completed high school and Israeli university
preparation
exams (bagrut) through our Adult Education Program.
* More than 1,600 women have
participated in our leadership and rights (Education,
Health,
Housing and Employment) awareness programs.
* Sidreh is the only organization that
works with the communities of the 'unrecognized
villages',
which present alarming needs and vulnerabilities
* Built the first Women’s Center in an
unrecognized village that offers activities to more
than
90 women
*Developed the first women’s newspaper in the
month
that are distributed to more than 50 villages.
* Represented Bedouin women in various
situations, including the Palestinian Women’s
Network,
and CEDAW’s regional meetings in
* 'Lakiya Negev Weaving' is close to
becoming 100% self-sustainable. Many fair-trade
retailers
around the world are already recognizing its quality and design as one of the
best in the region.
Lakiya Negev Weaving
Sidreh
is one of the
promote
a sustainable income generating project by transforming women’s traditional
weaving
skills into a professional manufacturing business that empowers women both
socially and economically.
Over
70 women participate in the production of rugs, bags and pillow cases; from
spinning,
dyeing, twining, weaving and quality control, as a unique
process that is hardly seen anywhere else in the world.
As
part of its efforts to generate awareness about Bedouin
women’s
needs and livelihood, Sidreh has opened a Visitor’s
Center
where people can learn about the weaving process and
meet some of its beneficiaries.
Making our Weaving Project 100% sustainable will
prove that Bedouin women
are capable of becoming agents of their own
development and will set an example
to the entire community.
For more information, please contact us
at: sidreh@gmail.com , www.lakiya.org,