On November 8, Shatil, in partnership with Ma'an, the Forum of Bedouin Women's Organizations - and with the support of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)- is holding a ceremony to mark the conclusion of the "For Our Rights" training course. This course trained a cadre of Bedouin women leaders, who gained knowledge and skills empowering themselves, their families and their communities. The event will be held in Hura with the presence of Mayor Dr. Mohammad Nabari, Shatil in the South's co-Director Sultan Abu-Obaid and Ma'an Director Safa Shahada. During the ceremony the participants will present the projects they have developed, and diplomas will be awarded to the promising young graduates.

Please find attached the invitation (in Hebrew) and below a short description of SHATIL's Bedouin Women Project.

SHATIL - Bedouin Women's Project Shatil's work with Bedouin women over the past decade has led to thousands of women becoming aware of and working for their rights; learning to improve their families' health and becoming involved in their children's education. As a result, a dozen grassroots groups have sprung up, counting among their successes the employment of Bedouin women, the launching of a government training course for Bedouin nurses in the Negev, raised awareness about honor killings, early marriage, polygamy and more.  

In the fall of 2009, Shatil partnered with the U.S. Department of State (MEPI) to expand its work to strengthen existing Bedouin women social change leaders and train and guide the next generation of leaders to affect public policy and advance the status of Bedouin women in the Negev.  The program has several components:

• Rights Course that began in January 2010 to expose Bedouin women with leadership potential to issues of human and women's rights, feminism, democracy and social change and to train them in project development;
• Women and Men's Round Tables project involve high school pupils, college students and school personnel and will be followed by a concluding conference;
• Leadership Skill Development among Bedouin women, through strategies such as Facilitative Leadership (in the first Arabic-language FL training course in the world), training in The Right Question Project and group facilitation and advocacy skills;
• Capacity building of Bedouin women's organizations with a focus on strategic thinking and planning throughout the project period;
• Dialogue in Education - Shatil trains young Bedouin women to become involved in their children's education. The program has led to establishment of parents committees in villages where none previously existed.