Bedouin Association's Background

The Bedouin Association for Education & Health Development was established as a registered, non-profit organization in 2002 by concerned, local residents who wanted to improve the educational levels and the living conditions of the Bedouin community in the center of Israel. After years of continued neglect by both the local Municipalities and the Israeli government, Bedouin residents organized on the grassroots level with the aim of affecting and improving our own destiny. Last year, a new board of directors was elected democratically in order to build an effective, strategic plan of action for the community. The current board includes Bedouin professionals in the fields of education, nursing, accounting, and journalism and we are currently working to recruit other volunteers in order to work together to revitalize the community. With little funding, and with the goodwill of volunteers, we have begun implementing after-school programming for youth. With support, our organization seeks to work in the following areas over the next few years:
 Education: strengthening Bedouin youth through educational enrichment, sports activities, youth-at-risk programs and leadership development that increase their self-esteem and their chances to stay in school and to not turn to violence and drugs.
 Women’s Empowerment: building programs in the areas of literacy, economic development, health and child development and consciousness raising in order to encourage to work and to have another source of money, to have their independence and to be active in decision-making at home and in general.
 Advocacy: we seek to work with the local and national authorities to improve the living conditions and to educate and empower the residents to improve our life. We will raise awareness in aspect of health rights and we are going to empower women in different fields.