Search report by SDG Goals:
This project was created out of concern for Bedouin children. Research has shown that these children are more frequently injured in home accidents compared with other Israeli children, including children from the general Arab sector. In an attempt of mitigating this problem, ICL initiated the program and recruited Matan – Investing in the Community, Ajeec-the Negev Institute, and B’Terem for Child Safety, to administer a special project aimed at improving the safety of Bedouin children living in the Negev.
The project includes three programs:
1) Safety at Home – This program includes activities for Bedouin ICL employees and their families with the goal of raising awareness among them about child safety and providing tools to adopt safe patterns of behavior.
ICL employs about 1,000 Bedouin workers (directly and indirectly). The company offers courses for safety at work and on the road for all of its employees every several months, thereby raising the awareness of Bedouin employees about the importance of children’s safety, adopting safety values. The company also teaches tools for safe behavior among employees and their children, in order to create a sustainable change in behavior among company employees, as well as conveying these messages to the employees’ families and their communities. ICL’s goal is for employees to lead change in their respective communities.
2) Safety in the Community – In addition to the aforementioned activities, ICL holds information events among all Bedouin communities in the Negev to raise awareness of safety guidelines for children and the prevention of their injury from accidents. This activity is conducted together with the Forum of Imams of Ajeec. The forum is comprised of 42 Bedouin Imams, representing diverse religious movements. The activity also includes instructions on safety provided in parent group meetings.
3) Safety Cadets – This program is held with the youth movement of Ajeec – the Negev Institute, encouraging children to become safety ambassadors, conveying the message to their parents, families and community. About 1,300 children are involved, from Hura, Kseifa, Rahat, Segev Shalom, and other villages in the region.
In addition, safety in daily life is integrated in other extracurricular activities that ICL is involved in the Bedouin community.
ICL is proud to lead this significant project, that is already bearing fruit. Hundreds of counselors and educators, are reaching thousands of residents in the Bedouin community with a message about the importance of safety. A research that was done, as the project was initiated and implemented, found a real impact on the prevention and the reduction of accidents.