Amal Abu Alkum, from the unrecognized Bedouin village of Wadi Na'am, was one of 300 participants attending Women in the South, a seminar co-sponsored by the Dimona Municipality and Isha L'Isha (Woman to Woman) on Sunday. She addressed the gathering in a panel on women's activism in the Negev.

"It is thrilling to see all these women here from all over who seek to work together toward the betterment of themselves and the Negev," said Abu Alkum.  Some came from as far away as Sderot and all sought to enjoy the day, which included music and dancing in celebration of International Women's Day.

Yarona Ben-Shalom, co-director of SHATIL's Negev office, was inspired to see Abu Alkum address this large audience. "She is a person who comes from an unrecognized village, from a traditional Bedouin background and who just a few years ago wouldn't have dreamed of standing in front of a group like this and speaking," said Ben-Shalom.

Black Hebrews choir performing at the seminar

Abu Alkum, a graduate of SHATIL's Bedouin Women for our Rights course, founded the organization Bedouin Women for Ourselves two years ago with the help of only one other volunteer.  With the assistance of SHATIL, the organization has grown to include 26 women and four men; the inclusion of men is a huge accomplishment in its own right.  The group provides assistance to some 200 women, who in turn make important contributions to the village.  Bedouin Women for Ourselves offers classes in reading and writing, computer literacy and early childhood development. They also run a tri-generational project in which otherwise taboo topics -- including polygamy and divorce -- are discussed. 

"SHATIL is my home away from home" says Abu Alkum. "I wouldn't have been able to start my organization or help the women in my community without SHATIL." 

Also among the panelists was Sarah Swoope, a member of the Hebrew Israelites (also known as the Black Hebrews), whose community is based in Dimona.  She said that after having been granted permanent residency in Israel some five years ago, the members of the community -- particularly the young people -- are exposed for the first time to external pressures.  She worked with Isha L'Isha to create a program to help prepare the community's young people for exposure to life on the outside by arming them with an understanding of who they are.  Swoope explains that in addition to coping with normal adolescent challenges, the teens, who now serve in the IDF, can become confused as their identity includes Hebrew Israelite, American and Israeli.

SHATIL's Ben-Shalom said she hopes to increase SHATIL's involvement with the Hebrew Israelites, who are an often overlooked part of the Negev. SHATIL would like to begin providing Swoope and her community-based initiative consultation on ways to organize, advocate and fundraise.

Panelists Amal Abu Alkum (right) and Sara Swoope (middle)