A course on biodynamic beekeeping ended in June of 2024 in the village of Baqa al-Gharbia, where 17 graduates each received a hive containing a queen and a swarm of bees. The course, which began in February under the guidance of educator and expert Yossi Aud, founder of the Bees for Peace project, took place at the MAAN Workers Association’s Center in the Triangle region, managed by Wafa Tiara.
17 inspiring women, both Arab and Jewish, participated in a unique course to learn about biodynamic beekeeping at MAAN’s office in Baqa al-Gharbiyeh (Triangle region, Israel). This project, consisting of six intensive sessions begun in May, and was the result of a longstanding collaboration between Sindyanna of Galilee and MAAN – Workers’ Organization, as part of the “Women and Work” project that MAAN has been running in the Triangle for 19 years.
Hana introduced me to Wafa Tayara from another nearby village, Kufr Kara. Wafa is an activist and the director of MAAN Workers Association’s program Women and Work. She is also the chairwoman of Sindyanna of Galilee, the only internationally certified Fair Trade social business in Israel.
In conversations with MAAN’s women’s field coordinator, Wafa Tiara, numerous Palestinian women workers expressed satisfaction with the dramatic change at the Sha’ar Ephraim checkpoint, which ended the phenomenon of sexual harassment they suffered for a long time.
Moza Ghanem, 47 years old, was born in a West Bank village. She married a man from the village of Zemer in the Triangle area (bordering the West Bank from the Israeli side) and gave birth to four children. Moza joined MAAN’s “Women and Work” project in 2008. She initially worked in a packing house, and in recent years she heads a cleaner team at the Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts.
Palestinian women who arrive at the Sha’ar Ephraim checkpoint, south of Tulkarm on the way to work inside Israel, report frequent sexual harassment within the area of the checkpoint designated for women only.
Some of the the women who spoke to MAAN and complained about the unbearable situation (they spoke to Wafa Tayara from MAAN on condition of anonymity), dubbed the checkpoint “ma’ata”, a device for plucking the feathers of chickens before slaughter
Rabab Kabaha, from the village of Barta’a is 39 years old, married and the mother of 4 daughters. She is a professional caregiver. Rabab worked for five years as the house mother of the seniors’ club in Barta’a on a part-time basis. Her husband is a factory worker, and she was looking for a way to improve their financial situation. Former work experiences she had yielded a very small salary.
Following her marriage, Wafa Bwirat, 34, from the village Fureidis moved to the small village of Bwirat, nearby. She graduated high school with honors, and wanted to continue studying but had to contribute to the family’s household. In 2008 she worked at a large packing house through a subcontractor, who would skim off a substantial percent of her salary.
About five years ago, Aida Abu Khalaf, 43, a divorced mother of five, joined MAAN- Workers Association. She had heard that MAAN helps Arab women find legally paid and protected jobs. She had to support her children and put food on the table. Previously she had worked through a manpower company in a part-time job in Caring for the elderly but felt exploited by the company.
Throughout the difficult period of Covid-19, the Women’s Empowerment group in Baqa al-Gharbia has continued its activities, led by its moderator, Hana Taufik. During the first lockdown, which lasted from mid-March to the end of May, Taufik held shorter meetings than usual through video links three times a week. Since June, ordinary meetings have resumed in the office or outdoors.
