Bethlehem University remains committed to expanding educational access and fostering resilience in marginalized communities. On Monday, 24 March 2025, representatives from the Faculty of Education visited several Bedouin communities on the outskirts of Al-Quds and Al-Azzariyeh, reinforcing the university’s ongoing efforts to support early childhood education in these underserved areas.
The visit built upon Bethlehem University’s longstanding partnership with the Comboni Sisters, a Catholic order that supports four kindergartens in Bedouin communities and extends aid to twelve communities in total. Recognizing the critical role of education in these vulnerable regions, Bethlehem University has actively contributed to the professional development of kindergarten teachers, many of whom have no formal training but are deeply dedicated to their communities.
In previous initiatives, the Faculty of Education’s Zo’roub Center provided teachers with instructional and craft materials to enhance classroom learning. Additionally, capacity-building courses led by Faculty members Dr. Hala Yamani, Ms. Maha Sader, and Dr. Jill Manske—with translation assistance from Ms. Amjaad Musleh—equipped these educators with pedagogical skills and a more holistic, humanistic approach to teaching.
This recent visit by Br. Alejandro, Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Dr. Rabab Tamish, Assistant Professor at the faculty, focused on distributing educational materials collected through an aid campaign, ensuring that children have access to essential learning resources. The visit also included exploratory discussions on further ways Bethlehem University can support the educational needs of these communities. Dr. Rabab, in her role as coordinator of the Palestinian hub in the ACoRN research project on Human Rights in Education, explored potential connections that would integrate the experiences of these often-overlooked communities into the broader discourse on educational equity.
Beyond economic hardship and the harsh desert climate, these Bedouin communities face ongoing threats from illegal settlers. Residents shared harrowing accounts of nighttime disturbances, where settlers blast loud music to disrupt sleep, and of men standing watch in shifts to protect their communities from attacks. Most devastatingly, a recently established kindergarten was destroyed by the occupation army, underscoring the precariousness of education in these areas.
Bethlehem University stands firm in its mission to nurture solidarity and resilience (sumud) among the Palestinian people. By continuing to provide educational resources and training, the university upholds its commitment to empowering the most vulnerable communities, ensuring that education remains a beacon of hope even in the face of adversity.