The hi-tech industry is Israel’s main engine of economic growth, but the Bedouin community has been largely excluded from this growth. The need to integrate underserved populations into the hi-tech sector has been acknowledged by both the industry and the Israeli government; however, such programs have not served the Bedouin society whose familiarity and proximity to hi-tech is far behind other minority groups. Siraj was founded in 2017 by  Bedouin and Jewish  academics, social entrepreneurs, and veterans of the Israeli hi-tech industry in order to integrate the Bedouin community into the hi-tech sector and activate workforce development processes that create job opportunities, with an emphasis on technological and research excellence. In doing so, we stay true to our name, Siraj, which means “a source of light” in Arabic. We work closely with our daughter company, Siraj Technologies Ltd., which aims to be a top-tier, leading tech company that competes on the global stage while creating high level job opportunities and hiring candidates who have demonstrated technological excellence.

Since the Bedouin community’s exposure to and awareness of the hi-tech industry is so low, Siraj focuses on bringing the industry to the community and on creating demand for Bedouin talent. Our multi-tiered approach leans on the idea that, in order to ultimately increase the employment of Bedouins in the tech industry, there is first a need to create examples of such employment and then provide the tools necessary to obtain it. As students and university graduates are exposed to tangible career paths in tech through the example of Siraj Technologies Ltd., tech meetups, and networking events, they will then seek out training and employment opportunities, which Siraj offers through its Job Training Program and Hi-Tech Training Courses. Siraj offers a range of programs that work together in synergy to reach all levels of the Bedouin society, including high schools students, university students, graduates, and members of the general community.

Read more about our programs and activities here.