Women Empowerment Supporter - Bedouin Community

About Habiba Community

Habiba Community is based in Nuweiba, South Sinai with the Sinai Mountains on one side and sandy beaches with turquoise waters of the Red Sea on the other. The farm is based on a plot of what was an empty desert and has transformed it into a production hub of locally grown organic vegetables, as well as a center for research in sustainable desert agriculture. We are a center for research and regularly collaborate and conduct knowledge transfer with the Desert Research Center as well as agricultural research institutes around the world. 

Habiba aspires to set a successful example to be followed by locals across the Sinai Peninsula. For this reason, Habiba welcomes volunteers, students conducting research, and experts. 

Habiba Community is committed to transforming the lives of local Bedouin communities by promoting sustainable agriculture and permaculture. We do this by empowering the Bedouins to try different organic farming techniques, helping them not only to grow their own produce but to conduct their own research into how best to make use of the resources around us. 

About the Program

*PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY FEMALE VOLUNTEERS ARE ACCEPTED IN THIS PROGRAM*

This specific Volunteer Program aims at the economic and educational empowerment of women who have more restrictions on their lives. Our goal through the women empowerment program is to provide opportunities for Bedouin women to have alternative economic incomes through gardening to improve their lives. 

The goal is to provide Bedouin women with everyday household farm knowledge so that they can both support their own food needs as well as participate in crop exchanges with other families.

This includes gardening in desert environments, environmental care, nutrition, handicrafts, and food production for sale.

Our vision is to create a sense of responsibility towards the environment where people believe they can change the world by learning and developing their skills. In order to achieve this, it is important for Bedouins to understand that the world we live in is not just for us but for the future generations to come.

We also wish for this program to be an inspiration for other women and families in Nuweiba and the rest of Sinai Bedouin tribes.

Ideal Applicants

Firstly, you should be open-minded and culturally sensitive. Ideally, you will have experience working with developing communities elsewhere in the world. However, even if you do not, you should have the appropriate sensitivity to be able to communicate cross-culturally with people from strikingly different economic and cultural backgrounds.

Secondly, it would be helpful if you have handicraft, cooking, or other home-making skills. You do not need any qualifications — common sense and everyday skills are all we ask for, plus an ability to learn and teach.

Finally, because of the time investment in building relationships, we require a minimum of two weeks. Please note that preference will always be given to those who can commit for 4 weeks or more.

You do not need to speak any Arabic to communicate well. So much communication is done simply by being present. However, any Arabic ability (or enthusiasm to learn it) is welcome!

What should I bring?

Bring sun protection (lightweight clothing to cover your head, neck, and shoulders), mosquito repellant, sturdy shoes, work gloves, beach gear, and a sense of adventure. If you forget anything, you can buy most of the above in shops around Dahab and Nuweiba, but get shoes and cargo gear before arriving if possible.

During winter, bring warm clothes for the evenings when it can get chilly, especially when it’s windy.

It would also be helpful to bring any handicraft household items that may be common in your country/culture, such as sewing kits or bakeware. 

Training

You will spend a few days at Habiba Organic Farm learning desert farming, water management techniques, and waste management in order to be able to train the Bedouin community. You will also spend a couple of days meeting members of the community in their homes and at Habiba.

Depending on the length of your stay you may learn

• Household tasks like making jam, bread, cheese, and cakes, especially using local equipment. When relevant, you will learn dietary concepts like basic nutrition, e.g. the importance of sugar.
• How to prepare the herbs, jams, and flavored tea products that the Bedouin produces to sell.

Nuweiba has a lot to offer for your free time activities.

There are numerous dive centers around, which can both train you in diving and rent your gear. You can also arrange camel rides, both for a one-day ride or multi-day excursions.

There are also yoga, meditation, and craft centers around Nuweiba, boat trips, and safaris.

Please communicate with your hosts if something you’re interested in will take more than a few hours and will interrupt your volunteer work.