Last update - 00:00 18/03/2008
Women bring green revolution to Arab sector
Aziza Muadi, of the Lower Galilee town of Maghar, has a dream - to establish a large educational institute that will teach environmental conservation, recycling and ecology. But considering the low awareness of environmental issues in the Arab sector, Muadi decided to start small: She recently began coordinating a group of 17 women who are now promoting environmental education in Maghar.
The women, aged 30 to 35, come from varied backgrounds - Druze, Moslem and Christian. They are being instructed by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
"This is the first group of Arab women to learn about environmental issues," said Muadi. Explaining that in her neighborhood, environmental awareness is still in its infancy, she added: "We therefore decided to start with activities in the schools, because change has to begin with the students."
After completing an SPNI course on environmental education, the women joined the staff of SPNI's field school, which runs the environmental program in the village's elementary school. The women gave several lessons to every grade, covering environmental topics such as nature, water, recycling, air pollution and ecology. Last week, the women and students went on a field trip that included a clean-up operation.
"The women's involvement as part of SPNI's teaching staff," said Vasil Hazima, director of SPNI's field school in Maghar, "is good not only for the students, who benefit from environmental education, but also for the women, who are learning a subject they love. Their concern and enthusiasm pique the children's interest in what is happening near their homes and encourage them to care about their surroundings.
"This project is also important from the perspective of empowering the women and changing the concept of women's status: that they are more than just homemakers, have special interests and can contribute to society," Hazima continued. "When we sat with them to discuss environmental issues, it was exciting to hear them talk, as we are not used to hearing their voice, but rather only that of the men.
"You should see how they come to meetings and plan projects," he said. "They have tremendous energy. This is something different and very special."
Yusuf Askala, a resident of Maghar and a member of SPNI, believes this is a breakthrough.
"There is added value in an educating, motherly figure that comes from the neighborhood," he said. "For the children, this is not one more teacher or instructor, but a woman who comes from their neighborhood, with her personal experience and beliefs, and this makes a difference." The women, he added, "are beginning to think differently, to care more about the town, while serving as examples and role models."