PA 06 - PEACEFUL THREADS
Project Location
The Comboni Sisters have been present in Bethany since 1966, serving communities on both sides of the 708-kilometer wall separating Israel and Palestine. Our mission focuses on sowing peace and nurturing hope through education and service in the Bedouin villages of the West Bank. In 2011, after the Second Intifada and the construction of the Wall, we expanded to Al Azareyah and the Judean Desert, addressing the needs of the Jahalin Bedouins displaced from the Negev Desert in 1948 and now living in precarious conditions.
The expansion of Israeli settlements in the surrounding areas threatens the very existence of these communities, as the lands they have traditionally inhabited are being expropriated for new settlements and infrastructure projects. The region faces political tensions, economic struggles, and social marginalization, particularly for women. Bedouin women often experience cultural exclusion and economic dependence.
Since October 2023, embroidery initiatives by the Comboni Sisters have become vital, offering women a source of income while preserving cultural traditions. Products like embroidered cards, shawls, table runners, keyholders, and cushions, crafted by women from various Bedouin villages embody resilience amid adversity.
The Bedouin communities of the Judean Desert are custodians of an ancient tradition that endures despite modern pressures and the challenges imposed by the region’s geopolitical realities. Their life in the desert, though marked by suffering and daily struggles, also serves as a testament to hope, resilience, and a profound attachment to their roots. Protecting these communities means preserving a vital part of Palestinian history and culture, offering them a future that blends tradition with progress while safeguarding their identity.
Project description
Threads of Peace is a multi-phase livelihood and women’s empowerment initiative accompanying Bedouin communities in the Judean Desert, a region deeply affected by displacement, home demolitions, restricted mobility and prolonged socio-economic instability. In recent years, access to employment for men has dramatically declined, resulting in women – often for the first time – assuming the role of primary breadwinners for the families.
Previous phases of the project successfully established women’s embroidery groups in ten villages, revitalized traditional Bedouin embroidery and created community spaces for learning, mutual support and income generation. More than 200 women – mothers, grandmothers and young women – acquired foundational embroidery skills and began producing items for local solidarity market.
Phase IV represents a follow-up and consolidation phase. It builds directly on the achievements of earlier phases, shifting from basic skill acquisition toward quality enhancement, product diversification, entrepreneurship development and long-term income sustainability. In addition to advanced embroidery and sewing skills, this phase strengthens women’s capacities in soap and candle making and complementary livelihood activities, reducing economic vulnerability and expanding income opportunities.
Through Threads of Peace, women gather in small circle to embroider, sew, learn and support one another. Elder women pass cultural knowledge and traditional skills, while younger women gain confidence, competence and leadership. What began as survival response has evolved into a transformative process of dignity restoration, cultural preservation and economic empowerment.
The following activities will be carried out within the project:
- Advanced embroidery and sewing training: skill refinement, quality control, introduction of new design, finishing techniques and sewing machine use
- Distribution of individual production kits (threads, fabric, needles, hoops and basic tools)
- Soap and candle making courses: practical training on production techniques, safety standards, packaging and cost calculation
- Entrepreneurship and Marketing training: workshops on pricing, basic bookkeeping, product storytelling, language skills for sales and collective marketing strategies
- Access to solidarity markets: facilitation of participation in local solidarity markets, exhibitions and community fairs.
Objectives
- To consolidate and advance embroidery and sewing skills
- To equip women with essential tools and materials to enable independent and continuous production
- To strengthen complementary income-generating skills through structured soap and candle making courses
- To enhance women’s capacities in entrepreneurship, marketing, language skills and cooperative work
Beneficiaries
Direct: 200 women from 10 Bedouin villages ages 18 to 80
Indirect: over 1.200 families and community members from 10 Bedouin villages across the Judean Desert.
Local participation
Local participation is vital to the success of the project. Women provide venues, electricity through solar panels, and refreshments like tea and coffee, fostering collaboration and hospitality. Their active involvement in decision-making and implementation ensures the project addresses their needs, empowering them to take ownership. By contributing time, resources, and cultural insights, they strengthen resilience, empowerment, and cultural preservation in their communities
Referent sister of the project: sr Maria Cecilia Sierra Salcido
Project's costs