Bustan L'Shalom Project- Wadi Na'am, Israel
Bustan is a grassroots partnership of Jews and Arabs who are working
to raise awareness of the plight of the indigenous Bedouin population
by promoting sustainable initiatives. Builders Without Borders is providing
educational materials and technical support for the construction of
a strawbale medical clinic. In addition to providing medical care in
a region where adequate medical care is not accessible, it is hoped
that this project will spawn interest in sustainable building across
the Negev where 70,000 Bedouins are living in corrugated tin shanties.
Bustan means ‘grove’ in both Hebrew and Arabic. Bustan is
a grassroots partnership addressing the plight of indigenous and marginalized
people in Israel/Palestine. Bustan works with villagers who have been
denied access to public resources, and raises awareness of systemic
discrimination through proactive initiatives. Bustan promotes social
and environmental justice — helping people help themselves.
Wadi Na’am, in the Northern Negev, home to 4,000 people, is unrecognized
by the Israeli government. The population of Wadi Na’am has long
been denied medical services, water, and electricity infrastructure.
As a result, the families of Wadi Na’am live without the most
basic provisions.
The objective of this project is to build a solar/wind powered medical
clinic by means of a community-building work camp. The practice of adobe/straw
building has a long history in Bedouin tradition. The project is meant
to reintroduce these sustainable, low-budget techniques in the Unrecognized
Villages.
What? Join us in Israel, to train and be trained by
indigenous Bedouin and local Israelis in alternative building techniques.
During a 6-day work camp, volunteers and the community of Wadi Na’am
will build a solar-powered, strawbale medical clinic. Art and music
workshops will be held for children and families. Lectures about unrecognized
villages, sustainability, and Bedouin culture will combine modern information
with ancient wisdom.
Who? Bustan’s coalition of NGO’s invites
people of all traditions to join us: activists, appropriate technology
engineers, green builders, musicians, artists, environmental lawyers,
organic farmers, alternative practitioners, peace educators, and writers.
Where? Wadi Na'am village, is an unrecognized village
next to Israel’s toxic waste incinerator in the Northern Negev.
It is home to 4,000 citizens in need of medical services.
When? Join us for Earth Day 2003. Come to the Holy
Land of Israel/Palestine for Pesach and Easter. The Medwed Work Week
begins Friday April 18th—25th, 2003.
How? For $800 per person (outside of Israel/Palestine),
mobilize to build with villagers and activists. This cost will cover
all program activities, your accommodations in the village, guides,
translators, reading materials, and 2 meals daily.
[It is not possible to secure a permit for the construction
of this clinic, as the entire village is unrecognized by Israel. Due
to the hostile political climate there is a chance this medical clinic
may be demolished. Our hopes are the humanitarian need of providing
medical services to Israeli citizens will supercede the law.]
Strawbale Builder/Trainer Opportunity
An experienced strawbale builder who can train others is sought for
this workshop. Due to lack of funds, at first we are seeking a volunteer
trainer. If we cannot locate a volunteer, we are very willing to pay
someone. Please contact us for more information.
Contact Information
Devorah Brous, bustanlshalom@yahoo.com or devorah@bustanlshalom.org
mail: Bustan, P.O. Box 309, Madison, NJ, 07039
phone in Israel: 001 972 53 711-800
http://www.bustanlshalom.org
Funding
We have raised just over 2/3 of the budget, and are in need of financial
support from individuals and organizations to cover the remaining expenses.
For tax-deductible donations to Bustan, please make checks payable to:
Walking Stick Foundation
P.O. Box 309
Madison, NJ, 07930
To make direct deposit dontations in Israel/Palestine:
Bank Leumi, Branch #785
Bustan Account #16303/34
We are actively seeking partnership and collaboration on this project.
Please stay in touch.
BWB is an international network of ecological builders working together for a sustainable future.