The Association for the Improvement of Women's Status, Lakia

The Association for the Improvement of the Status of Women works to empower Bedouin women & children through the improvement of their economic & social status & the advancement of education for children & youth. AIWS (better known as Desert Embroidery) was created in the 1980s by a group of young Bedouin women in Lakia who wanted to improve life for women & children in their community. Granted non-profit status in 1996, Desert Embroidery was the first Bedouin women's organization in the Negev. Desert Embroidery, our flagship project, preserves traditional embroidery skills & has trained over 160 women to date. The women receive materials for free, work at home & are paid for their finished work. Desert Embroidery runs a Visitors Center & Store where beautiful handmade pillows, handbags, wall hangings & clothing are sold. We host visitor groups from all over the world. Our Mobile Library project provides books to over 1500 children in Lakia & surrounding villages that have no public libraries. We believe in the importance of encouraging the love of reading in children at an early age. We also run youth leadership & educational projects for the good of the Bedouin community.