Our Stories
Naama’s Story
Naama AlSana, the director of the Desert Embroidery Project and a founder of the organization tells her story:
“I was one of thirteen children. Because my father believed in the importance of education, all of my brothers and sisters completed high school and acquired a professional or academic education. This was very exceptional in those days!
My personal goal and the goal of the Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status in Lakia 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. Along with my friends, we established the Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status in Lakia to empower Bedouin women through employment and education. We wanted women to be as independent as their brothers.
It wasn’t easy in the beginning. I would wake up in the morning and find the windows of my car smashed. I was afraid for my children. In 2005 our embroidery center was set on fire, but the people who wanted to prevent us from earning a living and empowering ourselves couldn’t force us to give up. Along with other Bedouin women’s organizations in the Negev, we have succeeded in generating change in our conservative society. Today there are independent young women who study at universities, choose their own marriage partners and refuse to become a second wife. Nonetheless, we still have many problems to solve and a long road ahead of us.
Throughout the years we have received monetary and moral support from many people in Israel and abroad. I am grateful for all their help and always hope that I can fulfill their expectations of me. I firmly believe that we need to help ourselves – this is the only way to attain true empowerment and create a better future”.
Kapa’s Story
“I came to study Hebrew and now I run my own business.”
“I was born in Jerusalem but grew up in Hebron and never finished high school. I first came to the Association to study Hebrew when my husband was teaching in the village of Kessafia and we were living in Lakia. When I was a child, I learned to embroider and sew from my mother, so naturally I began working in the Desert Embroidery Project. Even though I was already over 50 at the time, I had never held a job or earned my own money.
With the encouragement of the women in Desert Embroidery, I learned to drive and got my driver’s license. I took part in a sewing and design course run by Desert Embroidery and began working in the sewing workshop. I discovered that I have a talent for design and began designing new products, including an iPad case. This gave me a lot of personal satisfaction!
When I first came to Desert Embroidery, I didn’t have any self-confidence. I learned a great deal from the lectures and meetings I went to. For three years I took part in a project funded by the European Union to encourage business initiatives among Bedouin living in the periphery. I was thrilled when my project won financial support from the project. At the closing celebration for the project, I even spoke from the podium to the entire assembly!
When my late husband retired, we moved back to our village and I opened my own business. Utilizing the financial help I received from the EU, I bought a sewing machine, professional quality iron and sewing equipment. Today I employ 10 women from my neighborhood in embroidery and sewing. I sew for local customers and fill orders for Desert Embroidery. I drive to Lakia almost every week to bring new merchandise and spend time with my friends. For me the organization is a second home!”
Asmaa Tells her Story
Asmaa ElSana, Managing Director of the Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status in Lakia
“I took part in the Youth Leadership Project when I was in high school and the program had a strong influence on me. Through the Youth Leadership Project I learned to value my abilities and understood the importance of contributing to the improvement of the Bedouin community.
I continued my studies after high school at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheba where I received a B.A. in history. I continued on to two Masters Degrees, one in History and one in Education. Today I am a history teacher in the Akraa High School in Lakia and dedicate my free time to running our non-profit Association. I am grateful for everything I received from the Youth Leadership Project as a young girl. Through directing the Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status, I know I am making my own modest contribution to the future of my community.”
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