For the past couple of years, The Switch Centre for Training and Advancement of Employment, a project of the Harry Oscar Triguboff Institute, has quietly gone about improving the lives of the Bedouin community in the Negev region of southern Israel. As I walked into one of the classrooms on a bright autumn morning, I reflected on the words “giving back” in acknowledgement of one man’s generosity of spirit and how Harry Triguboff’s proactive support of community can change many thousands (if not millions) of lives.
The Switch Centre is housed within the Idan HaNegev Industrial Park, located on the outskirts of the large Bedouin city of Rahat. The Centre’s Arab and Jewish staff work side-by-side, all committed to their jobs. The multi-purpose centre houses classrooms, an auditorium, offices, workspaces, and conference rooms which are put to good use. Around 250,000 Bedouins live in Israel and any additional education and training opportunities are welcomed with open arms as it dramatically lifts employment opportunities for Bedouin Israelis, which in turn impacts society positively as a whole.
While I was there, I was lucky to hear Bedouin women speak about the entrepreneurial skills they gained while enrolled at the Centre and how these new skills dramatically changed their lives. Career opportunities opened up that had previously not existed, not in their wildest dreams. These women obtained independence, most for the first time in their lives, financial and emotional independence as their confidence in their abilities flourished. They loved that Jews and Arabs worked together in this space for the betterment of all. Shalom Norman, CEO of the Triguboff Institute, spoke about a popular computer course recently completed by members of a Bedouin tribe, 40% of whom are deaf.
We rounded off our visit by learning about the healing qualities of plants – appropriately (as the Centre was soothing for the soul) we made healing balms to use whilst on our journey through Israel.
I came to this inspiring Centre via an eye-opening and profoundly soul-satisfying tour of Israel led by Dr Rabbi Orna Triguboff. Rabbi Triguboff organises her Neshama Life Land and Spirit Kabbalah Tour of Israel every couple of years. For more information visit: https://www.neshamalife.org/
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