Resilience In Adversity: How Bedouin Women Are Leading Community Change

The Regional Council for the Unrecognized Bedouin Villages in the Negev (RCUV) is a grassroots civil society organization, democratically elected by 150,000 citizens in 46 unrecognized or unplanned Bedouin villages. The main goal of RCUV is to advocate for the recognition and rights of these unrecognized Bedouin villages, using legal, political, and public strategies to ensure their inclusion in national planning processes. This work aims to achieve formal recognition for all villages and develop a master plan to guide their future.

The seventh of October stands as a deeply impactful day for the residents of unrecognized villages, as they faced the crisis without protection from the Iron Dome or immediate medical care. In the aftermath, their vulnerability was heightened by the absence of a municipal authority to support their recovery and rehabilitation.

In early November, we reached out to HATD for help in providing mental health support to Bedouin women in unrecognized villages. These women, and the community as a whole, have been suffering from symptoms of post-trauma due to the prolonged war in southern Israel. They suffer from being exposed to missiles without protection, from systemic racism and government discrimination, and from the lack of resources, which is common in communities like theirs. Additionally, the desert culture they come from often leaves no room for emotional expression, meaning many of these women lack the tools to process ongoing trauma.

With the immediate response from HATD, we were able to establish support groups for women in these villages. These groups meet regularly with trauma therapists who help the women identify distress signals and offer the necessary support. The groups not only focus on post-trauma, but they also create a wider circle of support among the women, beyond their family structures. In these groups, leadership qualities are emerging among women who are eager to take on a more significant role in the community’s struggles for human rights.

A powerful example of the impact of these groups comes from a mother whose 8-year-old daughter began showing severe emotional reactions to the ongoing conflict. With no mental health resources nearby, she was unsure of how to support her daughter. When she joined one of our support groups, she gained the tools and guidance to help her daughter cope with the trauma, while also finding a safe space for herself to share her own fears and concerns.

Laila Freijaat, who leads the coordination of the women’s communities, has become a key figure in this effort. Growing up in the village of Bir Al-Mshash, Laila was forced to leave school early to marry and have children. At the age of 25, she began working and, through incredible determination, pursued her education. She recently completed her bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate, all while raising seven children. Laila shares stories of women who fear leaving their children unprotected and who, through group work, have developed a system where they support each other so that women can continue studying and building careers.

Thanks to the support groups, we have also realized the importance of developing female leadership within the Bedouin community. We are now seeking funding for a three-year project to enable leading women from each group to take central roles in village planning. Many issues, especially those deemed “women’s issues,” often go unaddressed in village committees, and these leaders can help bring those concerns to the forefront.

Despite the war, its traumatic effects, and a government that fosters discrimination, the Bedouin community continues to demonstrate resilience. The strong community traditions that enable members to support one another have allowed them to cope with the consequences of the war and continue to fight non-violently for their rights. When we first launched the support groups, we assumed the war and its outcomes would dominate the discussions. To our surprise, the connections formed within these spaces have empowered women to grow into leaders who will continue to drive change for many years to come. You can find out more about RCUV here and about Healing Across The Divides here.