Anna Lindh Israeli Network A Holistic Home-Based Therapeutic Project for Affected Bedouin Families in the Israeli Negev. A New Dawn in The Negev

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A NEW DAWN IN THE NEGEV PICTURE

A Holistic Home-Based Therapeutic Project for Affected Bedouin Families in the Israeli Negev.

A New Dawn in The Negev

The Bedouin society in the Negev is an inseparable part of Israel in general and the Negev in particular. The current war has strengthened this relationship unfortunately because the Bedouin society has suffered over 20 losses and about 10 individuals are missing or kidnapped.

A New Dawn in the Negev was mobilized at this difficult time to provide mental first aid and initiate a project whose goal is to create a mechanism of caregivers who will come to the homes of the affected families and accompany them in a continuous manner appropriate to their needs within the confines of the family home.

The project will monitor and respond to the development of anxiety, addictions, and violence that occur following the traumatic events and, finally, accompany the affected population who are neglected and in need of immediate assistance.

Currently, over 21 families of the murdered and about 10 families of the missing/kidnapped are known. Sadly, these are approximate numbers as not all details are available as a result of the enormity of the violence and destruction on October 7. It must be remembered that each such family consists of many women and children who are the main victims of the situation.

A New Dawn in the Negev and senior therapists from the Psychoanalytic Society in Israel teamed up to provide culturally adapted training and ongoing training for therapists who daily engage in trauma therapy.

There will be continuous dialogue between the teams in the field and between the accompanying instructors from the Psychoanalytic Society. Questions regarding the interface of the social and cultural needs of this specific population must be addressed. 

  Upon completion of the training, the caregivers will be sent to the families of the victims (as stated, in our estimation, there are approximately 40 families of victims) for about four hours a week.

 

A New Dawn in the Negev: A Bedouin-Jewish Community Development Organization in the Negev

EMPOWERING THE BEDOUIN COMMUNITY FROM WITHIN: The Negev is home to 240,000 Bedouin, approximately one-third of the region’s population. Negev Bedouin is Israel’s most disadvantaged community by far, with a poverty rate of 70%, widespread unemployment, significant school dropout rates, and a severe lack of public infrastructure. The community lives on the socio-geographic periphery, experiencing acute isolation, and its youth face tremendous struggles and uncertainty about the future. 

Founded in 2009, A New Dawn in the Negev is a Bedouin-Jewish community development organization providing educational, employment, and leadership opportunities for Bedouin youth and young adults, helping them become active, engaged members of society. Based in Rahat and working from within the community, they are inherently attuned to the multiple challenges that the community faces and seek to address these challenges at a grassroots level.

Focus Areas and Programs:

1) YOUTH CAPACITY BUILDING: Some 60% of the Bedouin community are below the age of 16. Bedouin youth have the capacity to generate profound socio-economic change if given the skills and opportunities to reach their full potential.

2) SHARED SOCIETY: A New Dawn promotes collaboration between groups that make up Israel's mosaic of identities and cultures, seeking to reduce fears and prejudices and create meaningful opportunities for community development

Programs:

 • The Living Together Conference promotes networking and creative ideas for Negev-based civil society organizations, government leaders, and business owners. 

• Holocaust Museum Guide Training for Bedouin educators.

 • Youth Cultural Exchange - delegations of Bedouin, Jewish, and European youth to learn from each other in a multicultural setting.

 • "Neighbors" Dialogue for Rahat Bedouins and Jews from several Bnei Shimon Regional Council region communities.

 • “Shared Living in the Negev” framework for joint community development projects for Bedouin and Jewish populations in the Negev. • Social Tourism for Israeli and international groups and individuals to become acquainted with Bedouin society. A New Dawn also provides training for aspiring Bedouin entrepreneurs (primarily women) who are interested in creating businesses and working within the local tourism context 

3) COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: The Bedouin population of the Negev faces a myriad of emotional issues due, among other factors, to their socio-cultural isolation and the transition from nomadic to modern society. There are very few mental health resources tailored to address these needs.

A New Dawn in the Negev would like to invite all Anna Lindh Israeli Network Members to plan a tour to understand more about the Bedouin-Jewish partnership in the Negev.

https://anewdawninthenegev.org/bedouin-tours/