Samah Salaime-Egbariya

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2008

Samah Salaime-Egbariya

Arab Women in the Center

Neve Shalom, Israel

Civil and Human Rights

The Bold Idea:

Establishing a center for helping women fight the phenomenon of honor killings in the Arab community in Israel.

At least seven women are murdered in Israel’s Arab communities each year. These are deemed “honor killings,” murders committed to preserve the family’s honor if the woman has been suspicious of committing adultery or any other simple common social contact with a stranger. Moreover, the number of women suffering from domestic violence in these communities is higher than the country average, while the number of women seeking help from the Israeli authorities and police is small.

Arab Women in the Center will foster social change by training community members to challenge pre-conceived ideas regarding gender roles. The Center will operate projects inside schools in order to raise the level of consciousness of these phenomena amongst youth. They will also host workshops for young women to help them advocate for their rights when there is danger or violence in the family.

Biography:

As a woman, Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, and citizen of Israel, Samah Salaime-Egbariya is driven by her studies in social work, women’s issues, and human rights. She has worked within Arab communities for twelve years, partnering with young women, men, and families in mixed towns in Israel.

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
As a social worker for over twelve years, I have worked with Arab women and youth all over Israel. I have seen the social and family problems, including poverty, violence, dropout, unemployment, and murder in the name of "family honor." I have been running a Young Women Center in a mixed town (Arabs and Jews) for five years. In 2006, seven women were killed here; one of the victims (fifteen years old) was murdered by her brother because she wanted to finish high school and refused to get married. Sabrin, the victim, had turned to the police and the social worker and even to the hospital seeking protection, but no one helped her. I saw that the whole system has become unreliable because Sabrin did turn to the authorities; something has to be changed regarding the treatment of women and violence. I have talked to people, public figures women and men. My conclusion was that we must establish a neutral center that does not cause any threat to the community conventions, a safe place where women can find people whom they can trust and people who understand and help.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social and difficult problems? (Such as experiences, skills, events, etc.)
Frankly I don’t know how I do have the gall to think that I can make social change, but that feeling is controlling my soul, my life, and my future. I also convinced myself that even if I fail to make change, my experience will give some other woman the inspiration to make her move and this knowledge is empowering me deeply.

New and Untested: What's innovative about your new idea for social change?
The idea is innovative as it is simple and more difficult than other projects. Instead of taking the victim out of her natural belonging (as the "women shelters" do), we intend to deal with them inside their community by local well-trained factors, and thus reduce the danger in their lives. Today, the authorities focus on the victim as a problem. The social services offer shelter for oppressed women in another town, together with Jewish women with whom they aren’t able to communicate. They eventually choose to run off, back to death. However, in most cases there is no room in these shelters. The idea of our project is to make the whole community safe for oppressed women, and every home will be safe with the help of local trained professionals. We will turn local people into experts and empower them. On the other hand, a new generation will be raised with the concept of non-violence.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
I think you must have faith in yourself and faith that your target group can make the change. Believing isn’t the only quality; you have to make a good plan and a backup plan, and have the courage to make the first move toward you goal.

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?
I do like Fauroz (a Lebanese artist that was abused by her composer husband for twenty years until she broke up with him and started over again by herself).

What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?
Nothing special but I do recommend reading something small but far away from your field every week. One day you will find your wishful idea or possibility.

Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?
Besides the bank website, I use this website very often. As a supporter of the new organization:

• shatil.org.il

What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader?
Your first move to make change has to be “erase the word impossible from your world.”

And don’t tell me that “women can’t.” You know that our name used to be won-men.