PA 04 - SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BEDOUIN GIRLS
Project Location
The project targets the Jahalin Bedouin communities of the West Bank. The Bedouins of the Jahalin tribe arrived there from the Tel Arad district in the Negev desert. Tribal history asserts that since 1949 the Israeli authorities have initiated a campaign of forced evacuation against the Bedouins in the Tel Arad region. Physical and psychological violence increases, leading to the demolition of Bedouin homes. The Jahalin tribe fled the tribal territories on the fringes of the Negev, moving first to Jordan and then to the West Bank where they are recognized as refugees by UNRWA. Bedouin villages are located in what has been outlined Area C by the Oslo Accords.
Area C is one of the frontiers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where numerous human rights violations continue to happen. A large part of the population risks being deported or having their homes demolished for security reasons, measures that often specifically affect the nomadic tribes.
In 2009 the Comboni Missionary Sisters based in Eastern Jerusalem launched an educational project. At first the scope of this project was to establish and foster alternative learning for children. Over the years it expanded, so that step by step new Bedouin villages and communities came to benefit from it; currently the project also provides services to women and children’s parents.
Part of our ministry in the villages are visits to families. On these occasions we regularly come into contact with bright young people who would like to continue university studies and women eager to develop their skills.
Project description
Few Bedouin girls obtain parental permission to continue their studies. Those who do often lack financial resources. For this reason, for some time now we support two or three girls per year so that they can continue their studies, thanks to the scholarship we offer them provided they achieve a good score.
In 2022 we supported two girls. One of them got married and her husband asked us if we could continue to assist her with her studies. The other one will continue the second year of vocational training and still needs our support.
And there are three further young women that have asked us for help! We therefore ask you for a contribution to the scholarships of 5 young university students.
Objectives
- To enable Bedouin girls to continue higher education
- To make sure that Bedouin girls receive a good education that will enable them to support the development of their families and of the local community
- To empower them and enhance their sense of dignity and self-esteem
Beneficiaries
Direct: 5 Bedouin girls
Indirect: their families and the Bedouin community
Referent Sister for the project: Sr. María Lourdes García Grande
Project's costs