About Us

Mission

The Siraj NGO strives to integrate Bedouin society into Israel’s hi-tech sector, the country’s engine of economic growth, to activate workforce development processes that will increase economic prosperity and decrease polarization between the Bedouin community and the general Israeli society.

Siraj was founded in 2017 by Bedouin and Jewish academics, social entrepreneurs, and veterans of the Israeli hi-tech industry. “Siraj” means “a source of light” in Arabic and, true to our name, we catalyse and lead the entrance of Bedouins into Israel’s hi-tech industry. Such models currently exist in numbers too small to impact the career paths that young Bedouins pursue, so we work to increase them.

Our daughter company, Siraj Technologies Ltd., strives to be an industry-leading tech company that competes on the global stage while creating highly technical job opportunities for qualified Bedouin college and university graduates.

Model

Our programs work in synergy to grow the funnel of qualified Bedouin hi-tech candidates by offering need-specific programming for four distinct audiences:

College and university graduates
College and university students
High schoolers
Bedouin community members (leaders, decision-makers, parents, teachers)

Read more about our programs for each of these groups here.

Staff

Fahima AtawnaExecutive Director

Fahima has 10+ years working to promote health and wellbeing in Bedouin communities in the Negev. She is the previous Program Manager for the Department of Health and Environment at AJEEC-NISPED. Fahima holds an MA in Public Health from Ben Gurion University (BGU) and a BA in Industrial Management from Sapir College. Fahima has a diploma in Chemical Engineering from the Technological College of Beer Sheva. She volunteers as an ambulance driver in remote Bedouin communities.

Reem Abu DabisCommunity Coordinator

Reem is currently completing her BA in Management at BGU. She previously received a certificate in Graphic Design from Appleseeds Academy. Reem resides in Tel Sheva.

Alaa Abu GhalionMentoring Program Coordinator

Alaa holds an MA in Social Work from Ben Gurion University of the Negev.
She worked for +10 years in the welfare department of local councils, as part of her work at Siraj she manages the Mentoring Program for University students and fresh graduates in the Bedouin Community.

Fatma Abu AssaTech-Way Coordinator

Fathma joins Siraj as Coordinator for the new Tech-Way program. She holds a degree in Psychology from Ben Gurion University where she also worked with students. Fatma has hit the ground running, helping to get Tech-Way off to a great start!

Public Assembly

The above members of the Siraj Board of Directors also serve on the Public Assembly

Dr. Giora Yaron

Chairman of Tel Aviv University (Executive Council), serves on the Board of Amdocs and on the Advisory Board of the Ministry of Defense. Active founding investor of various hi-tech and med-tech companies.

Dr. Sara Abu Kaf

Faculty member and lecturer in cross-cultural psychology in Conflict Management and Resolution program at BGU. Holds MA in Clinical Psychology, PhD from BGU, and is the first clinical psychologist from the Bedouin society.

Prof. Jihad El-Sana

Department of Computer Science at BGU, Head of Visual Media Lab. Recipient of 1995 Fulbright Scholarship for doctoral studies in the US, earned PhD in Computer Science from the State University of New York, Stony Brook.

Khader Al-SheikhBoard Member

Engineer by training, also holds BA in Business Administration from New England College. Completed Advanced Course for Directors of Public Companies at BGU.

Smadar NehabBoard Member

Hi-tech executive and entrepreneur, 25 years’ experience launching and leading R&D organizations in Israel and California. In 2007 founded and led Tsofen, an NGO aiming to integrate Israel’s Arab community and hi-tech sector.