First-Ever Summer Camp For Bedouin Children of Abu Basma

Nearly 1,000 fourth to sixth grade Bedouin children from the Negev participated in a week-long summer camp earlier this month. For almost all the children, this was a first-ever opportunity to leave the villages where they were born and see Israeli cities. The camp was initiated and funded by the Abu Basma Project, a joint initiative of NIF and the Joint Distribution Committee-Israel. The Ministry of Education also funded the camp.

"The summer camp opened up new horizons for these children," explained Dr. Thabet Abu-Ras, Executive Director of the Abu Basma Project. "Many of them had never left their homes let alone traveled to Tel Aviv. It was a culture shock but a very positive experience. Almost all the children had never been in a swimming pool before. Without the camp the kids would have been stuck at home in temperatures of 40 degrees centigrade with nothing to do."

Held at a regional school, the summer camp visited attractions in Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and Rishon LeZion. NIF Executive Director Larry Garber attended the events on the final day at a major park in the region.

The Abu Basma Project accompanies the Abu Basma Regional Council in the Negev, a newly formed local authority, which encompasses eight previously unrecognized Bedouin Villages with 27,000 residents – nearly one-third of the unrecognized Bedouin of the Negev. Although five of these villages have received recognition over the past year, government services such as education as well as utilities are almost non-existent. Thus the contribution of Education Ministry funds to the camp was of major significance for the provision of educational resources to Bedouin villages in the future. The Abu Basma Project coordinates activities among the government, NGOs and the Bedouin communities themselves.

Meanwhile, a convoy of 30 vehicles and water tankers traveled to the unrecognized village of Tel Arad last weekend to protest government policy that denies the villagers running water. The event, organized by the Recognition Forum and coordinated by NIF grantee Negev Coexistence Forum, generated major publicity about the Bedouins' plight.

The Bedouin of Tel Arad enjoy the luxury of water being brought to their homes.