We went to a Bedouin Village with the students. The organization we visited, Sidreh, empowers women. We sat in a Bedouin tent and watched a woman weave wool into yarn and make a rug with the yarn. By selling their products, they help the women earn a living. Sidreh also provides educational classes to Bedouin women where they learn Arab and Hebrew, among other things.
The Bedouin tribes used to move freely based upon where they could find water and feed for their animals. The government has settled most of them in the Negev now. They receive some government services in a "recognized" village. If a tribe continues with its traditional way of life, it does so in an "unrecognized" village and is not entitled to government services. They remain very poor. There are 35 unrecognized villages and 7 recognized villages in Negev.
The BYU Jerusalem Center provided seed money to Sidreh for an educational program. They also provide school kits. The program was successful and the government is now providing some assistance.
We watched a weaving demonstration inside this Bedouin tent. The tent is made of camel hair. In the summer time, the tent is dry and the camel hair shrinks, allowing a breeze through the tent walls. In the winter time when it rains, the camel hair expands blocks the wind.
The Bedouin woman is serving herb tea to each of us. They are very sharing and hospitable.
This Bedouin woman is weaving a very long carpet, which will be cut into smaller sizes and sold to provide income for the women.
This store is in front of the tent.
This is the store front. The tent is behind this building.
The black tank on the roof is a water holding tank that serves the building.
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