Arab women getting out of the house
Work fair in Galilee aims to open employment opportunities and promote Arab women. 'Program helped me regain my sense of confidence,' says mother from Sakhnin
Among the list of jobs offered were positions as Office Manager, Storeroom Manager, Bookkeeper, Sales Manager, and various Customer Service positions.
The job fair was made possible through the framework of “Sharikat Haya” (life partnership – a project of the Abraham Fund) in cooperation with the Joint Distribution Committee.
'Overwhelming turnout' (Photo courtesy of TAFI)
Amnon Be’eri-Sulitzeanu, Co-executive Director of the Abraham Fund Initiatives said, “The overwhelming turnout of women that came to participate in the job fair is definitive proof that Arab women are eager to get out of the house, integrate themselves into the job market, and contribute to the earnings of their families.
“The assumption coming from the obsolete conservative tradition that women are incapable or even prohibited from participating in the work force is no longer applicable in today’s world.”
Roughly 75 women participated in workshops acquainting them with the job market, such as maximized efficacy in job searching, Hebrew courses, computer skills and worker’s rights forums. Although the program has come to an end, over 30 participants have been placed in jobs so far.
Fatma Tarabia, a mother from Sakhnin, participated in all the seminars leading up to the Job Fair (Sharikat Haya).
Fatma said, “I worked for 15 years, and one day after my maternity leave, I was let go from my work. I was depressed and didn’t think I would find another job. The Sharikat Haya program and job fair aided me so much, both emotionally and literally, in getting back into the workplace.
"That is to say, I regained my confidence and was able to even fine-tune my job searches. I came away with a fully developed resume and a newfound sense of empowerment. The program and job fair really helped me to understand how to strengthen my position in the society around me.”
