Help Bedouin Women And Children Help Themselves
My goal is “to reach out to every young woman who longs to study, every woman in need of a livelihood or empowerment for personal strenght, and every child who deserves to listen to stories or read books.” Naama Alsana, a founder and the Director of the Desert Embroidery Project and Visitor Center
desert embroidery
Help us help ourselves
My goal is “to reach out to every young woman who longs to study, every woman in need of a livelihood or empowerment for personal strength, and every child who deserves to listen to stories or read books.
The Organization
Who We Are
The Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status in Lakia was the first recognized Bedouin non-profit organization in the Negev. The Association was founded by Bedouin women with the goal of empowering Bedouin women and children to attain equality through the improvement of their economic, educational and social status.
Our Major Objectives:
Employment
To improve Bedouin women’s economic standing by expanding sources of livelihood
Education
To strengthen Bedouin women and children through reading, educational enrichment and professional training.
Empowerment
To empower Bedouin women and youth through activities that expand their horizons, strengthen community commitment, and combat violence and stereotypes.
Our Major Projects
Women’s Empowerment: Employment, Education, Equality
For the founders of The Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status Lakia, improving the status of Bedouin women was deeply connected with both the personal, economic and educational empowerment of the women in their community.
The Desert Embroidery Educational Visitor Center
At Desert Embroidery we continue the tradition of Bedouin hospitality by welcoming visitors from Israel and abroad with refreshments, talks by Bedouin women, workshops, personal stories and visits to our store.
Together We Embroider a Better Future!
The Desert Embroidery Projects brings employment to Bedouin women in Lakia and its surroundings while preserving the folk art women learned from their mothers and grandmothers. Women embroider at home and earn money through sales at our store and website.
Bringing Books to the Desert
For over two decades, we have operated the only mobile library in the Bedouin community. In partnership with the Israeli non-profit Key Books, our library lends books and provides reading enrichment to over Bedouin 2,000 children.
Youth Leadership Programs: Blooming in the Desert
We run after-school programs for Bedouin youth to develop leadership skills. Activities include a theatre project to combat violence, meetings with social workers and group leaders, field trips and community volunteering.
Building the Future Through Education
To build a generation of educated citizens with the capabilities of leading the Bedouin community, we offer classes in English and mathematics for children and youth. For women we offer training in sewing and design as well as lectures, field trips and language study in Hebrew and English.