Jmalat
Visiting the largest Bedouin city in Israel, Rahat, has provided an opportunity to meet many new people and hear their life stories.
Jmalat, who has celebrated a day earlier her 41st birthday, is a very creative and multi tasking Bedouin woman.
After giving birth to seven children, she decided she didn't want to get pregnant again. However, as fate had it, she become a mother of eight, the eldest being 22 y/o.
Jmalat told us the moving story of her life. Her youngest child was born eight years ago, but no one knew that he was going to grow with special needs. He seemed like every normal baby boy at first and even when she got the diagnosis, Jmalat didn't believe it. For months she carried the secret for herself, not telling anyone about it until she could no longer carry the weight.
When she told her husband, he didn't believe her either, but after three days of sadness he accepted the fact and together they became stronger for the sake of their child.
Mahmud sat in his wheelchair, surrounded by the love and care of his big family, when I saw him. I caressed his face and he gave me a beautiful smile, but he didn't make any sound at all.
Jmalat said that it was actually thanks to Mahmud that she had become a business woman.
She borrowed some money from her mother and bought the ingredients she needed to make her beauty product. Her original recipe was her grandmother's and gradually she developed a whole natural cosmetic line of her own.
She packed the small jars and travelled around to sell her beauty cream in different places in Israel. To prove that her product was truly all natural, she would always taste it in order to influence potential buyers.
She became successful, made enough money to return the loan to her mother and grow bigger slowly but surely.
Jmalat has also gone into business with accommodating visitors in her home. She prepares delicious meals from scratch.
She made a fabulous dinner for our group which we all enjoyed very much.
I was impressed by this energetic young woman who has found the strength to support her family with love and pride.
When we left I gave her a big hug and thanked her for her hospitality. In return she gave each of us a small jar of her natural cosmetic cream.
Jmalat
Visiting the largest Bedouin city in Israel, Rahat, has provided an opportunity to meet many new people and hear their life stories.
Jmalat, who has celebrated a day earlier her 41st birthday, is a very creative and multi tasking Bedouin woman.
After giving birth to seven children, she decided she didn't want to get pregnant again. However, as fate had it, she become a mother of eight, the eldest being 22 y/o.
Jmalat told us the moving story of her life. Her youngest child was born eight years ago, but no one knew that he was going to grow with special needs. He seemed like every normal baby boy at first and even when she got the diagnosis, Jmalat didn't believe it. For months she carried the secret for herself, not telling anyone about it until she could no longer carry the weight.
When she told her husband, he didn't believe her either, but after three days of sadness he accepted the fact and together they became stronger for the sake of their child.
Mahmud sat in his wheelchair, surrounded by the love and care of his big family, when I saw him. I caressed his face and he gave me a beautiful smile, but he didn't make any sound at all.
Jmalat said that it was actually thanks to Mahmud that she had become a business woman.
She borrowed some money from her mother and bought the ingredients she needed to make her beauty product. Her original recipe was her grandmother's and gradually she developed a whole natural cosmetic line of her own.
She packed the small jars and travelled around to sell her beauty cream in different places in Israel. To prove that her product was truly all natural, she would always taste it in order to influence potential buyers.
She became successful, made enough money to return the loan to her mother and grow bigger slowly but surely.
Jmalat has also gone into business with accommodating visitors in her home. She prepares delicious meals from scratch.
She made a fabulous dinner for our group which we all enjoyed very much.
I was impressed by this energetic young woman who has found the strength to support her family with love and pride.
When we left I gave her a big hug and thanked her for her hospitality. In return she gave each of us a small jar of her natural cosmetic cream.