Graduates

Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in Al-Kasum, Neve Midbar and Segev Shalom

OCTOBER 2021 – AUGUST 2023

Jaber Abu Al Kian

District Supervisor, Ministry of Education

Jaber Abu Alkian is the district supervisor of the Social and Youth Administration of the Ministry of Education’s Southern District. In this capacity, he is responsible for non-formal education, social education, and social engagement in Bedouin Arab society. He also forges partnerships with government ministries and civil society organizations to promote values-driven programs and content, and to advance Bedouin Arab society by creating equal opportunity, increasing social mobility, and developing civil society. He also coordinates the Etgarim program for developing leadership in schools in the Arab sector in the Southern District, and leads scouting programs in schools and programs for promoting coexistence in the Negev, in which are conducted in partnership with AJEED-NISPED. Jaber has worked in education for some 25 years, 10 of in which were spent as a middle-school teacher and management member in the Tel Sheva local council, where he introduced “field, nation, and society” (“Shelach”) studies and land of Israel studies to the curriculum. He was involved in setting up 14 branches of youth movements and 35 branches of the AJEEC youth organization in the region, and is a member of the AJEEC-NISPED steering committee and of the board of directors of the Tamar Center, which promotes STEM studies in Bedouin Arab society. In addition, he was one of the initiators of the idea of founding the Desert Stars leadership center for Bedouin youth. Jaber is also involved in social improvement campaigns and in initiatives to resolve conflict and promote tolerance in Bedouin Arab society and in Israeli society in general. In the past, he volunteered in prisons and in programs for prisoner rehabilitation and empowerment, at the regional emergency response center, on the Hura community COVID committee, and at Edy’s House – a community support center for children with cancer. Jaber holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geography and environmental development, as well as a teaching diploma, all from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and holds a doctorate in educational administration from Yarmouk University in Jordan. He has lectured at Kaye Academic College of Education for the last four years. He grew up in the unrecognized Bedouin settlement of Umm Al-Hiran, and now lives in the Hura local council.

Jehan Abu Hadoba

Elementary School Principal and Social Activist, Neve Midbar Regional Council

Jehan Abu Hadoba is principal of the Al-Salaam Elementary School in Abu Talul, a community in the Neve Midbar regional council. She is also a social activist in the field of women’s advancement in Bedouin society. Jehan is a graduate of the group facilitation course at Gishot College, the Maoz leadership program, and the principal training program of Avney Rosha – the Israel Institute for School Leadership. Jehan holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Kaye Academic College of Education, and a master’s degree in educational consulting from the Israel Academic College in Ramat Gan. She lives in Abu Talul.

Yousef Abu Kaf

High School Principal, Al-Kasum Regional Council

Yousef Abu Kaf is the principal of the Atid Comprehensive High School in Umm Batin, which is located in the Al-Kasum regional council. He is currently working to strengthen community engagement by establishing a youth center that will operate on school grounds in the afternoons, with voluntary help from teachers. Previously, Yousef served as deputy principal, grade level coordinator, homeroom teacher, and Hebrew language teacher, who prepared students for the highest level of matriculation. Yousef holds a bachelor’s degree and a teaching diploma from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and a master’s degree in Hebrew language from the University of Haifa, and is a graduate of the principal training program of Avney Rosha – the Israel Institute for School Leadership. He is currently completing a doctorate in educational administration at Yarmouk University in Jordan. He lives in Umm Batin, in the Al-Kasum regional council.

Rabe Abu Rabea

Instructor and Coordinator, Special Education Regional Support Center, Abu Basma

Rabe Abu Rabea is an instructor of teachers and a coordinator at the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Regional Support Center (MATYA) in Abu Basma, which serves three local authorities: the Al-Kasum regional council, the Neve Midbar regional council, and the Kseifa local council. The center provides information, guidance, and assistance to educational staffs involved in special education, whether in dedicated special education frameworks and in mainstream schools. Rabe serves as the acting special education supervisor of assessment and eligibility committees for special education students. He is responsible for educational services provided to homebound students and to students who require invasive medical treatment and need medical support at school as a result. Rabe holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from Kaye Academic College of Education, and a master’s degree in special education from Or Yehuda College. He lives in Kukhleh, a community in the Al-Kasum regional council.

Rudaina Abu Rashed

Mental Health and Rehabilitation Social Worker, Hura

Rudaina Abu Rashed is a social worker in the field of rehabilitation of mental health patients in the community. She works at an assisted living facility for mental health patients in Bedouin Arab society, run by Hetz Rehabilitation in the Community. In this capacity, Rudaina helps people with mental illness to integrate into the community and society in a healthy way that matches their condition and their needs, whether in employment, academic studies, social and leisure activities, or more. In the past, she volunteered with at-risk youth in Hura, and completed her national civilian service as a volunteer in schools and kindergartens in Bedouin communities. Rudaina holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree with a specialization in art therapy from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and was awarded the university’s Frannie Ackerman Prize for social work students. She lives in Tel Sheva.

Kothar Abuhmad

Educational Counselor, Mentor, Teacher, and Social Activist, Al-Kasum

Kothar Abuhmad is an educational counselor and a mentor to new teachers as part of the Teach First Israel program. She also teaches Arabic as a second language at Sakhnin College for Teacher Education, is a social activist, and volunteers in the field of education. Under the auspices of the Fund for Innovative Education, she set up a bilingual escape room in Hebrew and English. Previously, she worked as a Hebrew teacher in Arab society and as an Arabic teacher in Jewish society. Kothar holds a bachelor’s degree in Hebrew literature and communications from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, a master’s degree in educational counseling from the Israel Academic College in Ramat Gan, and a teaching diploma from the Teach First Israel program. She lives in Darijat, a community in the Al-Kasum regional council.

Sabreen Alassad

Social Worker, Segev Shalom Local Council

Sabreen Alassad is a social worker in the welfare department of the Segev Shalom local council. Previously, she held various positions in welfare departments, including employment coordinator for Yated, the national program for young adults in at-risk situations; social worker in the welfare department of the Al-Kasum regional council; and employment coordinator in the welfare department of the Tel Sheva local council. In this last position, she established and managed women’s employment groups in Tel Sheva. Sabreen holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Sapir College, and a bachelor’s degree in health system management from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She is also a graduate of the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Yated program, and holds a diploma in group facilitation from Gishot College. She lives in Lakiya.

Aseel Alassad, z''l

Social Worker and Social Activist, Segev Shalom Local Council

Aseel Alassad was a social worker in the social services department of the Segev Shalom local council, where she was responsible for realization of rights at the individual, group, and community levels in the communities within the local council. She also developed and ran workshops on realization of rights and access to services, and helped residents exercise their rights in practice. Aseel was also a social activist in the field of women’s empowerment, and advocated especially for women with personal status issues in Israel. In her previous position in the social services department of the Al-Kasum regional council, Aseel founded a first-of-its-kind group for statusless women in Israel, which was dedicated to fighting for changes in government policy and combatting bureaucracy. Aseel held a bachelor’s degree in social work from Sapir College and a diploma in group facilitation from Gishot College. During her academic studies, she participated in the Young Women Politicians initiative at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, which trains and empowers young women who are interested in being politically active. Aseel tragically lost her life in a car crash on May 1, 2022, on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.

Marwan Algdefy

Social Education Coordinator and Biology Teacher, Segev Shalom

Marwan Algdefy is a biology teacher at the Segev Shalom Comprehensive High School, where he prepares students for the highest level of matriculation exams. He also serves as the school’s social education coordinator, and is responsible for non-formal education activities. Marwan also volunteers as a paramedic with Magen David Adom. Previously, he worked at the Segev Shalom community center in various positions: higher education manager for youth at risk; educational excellence coordinator; and coordinator for the Ogen program to combat school dropout through non-formal education. Marwan holds a bachelor’s degree and a teaching diploma in high school science education from Kaye Academic College of Education, a master’s degree in science and technology teaching, and a master’s degree in educational management, educational policy, and society from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He lives in Segev Shalom.

Hassan Algnami

Elementary School Principal, Neve Midbar Regional Council

Hassan Algnami is principal of the Al-Majid Elementary School in Abu Karinat, a community in the Neve Midbar regional council. He is a member of the board of directors of the Eastern Negev Regional Cluster (a partnership of all the local authorities in the area) and of the Neve Midbar community center. Previously, Hassan taught mathematics for 12 years at the Al-Moustakbal Elementary School in Abu Talul, where he was also the mathematics coordinator and field trip coordinator. He also managed teams of educational coordinators at AJEEC-NISPED, a non-profit organization that develops social and economic programs in Bedouin Arab society in the Negev and promotes Arab-Jewish partnership throughout Israel. Hassan holds a bachelor’s degree in education and mathematics teaching from Kaye Academic College of Education and a master’s degree in management and public policy from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is also a graduate of Avney Rosha – the Israel Institute for School Leadership. He lives in Abu Karinat, located community in the Neve Midbar regional council.

Aosama Alhozayl

High School Physical Education and Homeroom Teacher, Rahat

Aosama Alhozayl is a homeroom teacher and physical education teacher at the Salman High School in Rahat. In addition, he is a regional instructor and mentor to physical education teachers in the Ministry of Education’s Southern District. In the past, he was a lecturer and pedagogic instructor at Kaye Academic College of Education, and today lectures on physical education at PISGA regional pedagogic centers throughout the Negev. Aosoma is also a social and community activist who has created and led a range of activities in the field of physical education, including sports events and competitions between Bedouin Arab and Jewish youth sports teams. Aosoma holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Kaye College, and a master’s degree in physical education from Givat Washington Academic College of Education. He lives in Rahat.

Hassan Azbargah

High School History Teacher and Doctoral Student, Kseifa

Hassan Azbargah is a history teacher and coordinator of learning disabilities services at the ORT Al-Farouk Multidisciplinary High School in the Kseifa local council. He is also responsible for the evaluation of learning performance in the school. Hassan holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern history and a master’s degree in Jewish history, both from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is currently completing his doctorate at Ben-Gurion University’s Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies, where his dissertation examines critiques of the modernism of the poet Mahmoud Darwish. Hassan lives in Kseifa.

Sliman Elsana

Veterinarian and Director of Veterinary Department, Neve Midbar Regional Council

Sliman Elsana is a veterinarian and director of the veterinary department of the Neve Midbar regional council. He is also responsible for promoting health and a healthy lifestyle in the regional council and is a member of the Israel Veterinary Association. Sliman is an agricultural consultant to Project Wadi Attir, a groundbreaking initiative of the Bedouin community and of The Sustainability Laboratory, which has created an agricultural farm based on sustainable planning and community-oriented, environmental, technological, and economic considerations. He also volunteers in initiatives against violence that take place in educational institutions and in the community. Previously, he directed the Neve Midbar regional council’s city beautification department. Sliman holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Torino, Italy. He lives in Lakiya.

Shoma Hawashla

Coordinator of Higher Education Program, Neve Midbar Regional Council

Shoma Hawashla is the coordinator of the Ruwad program in the Neve Midbar regional council, an initiative of the Council for Higher Education dedicated to making higher education accessible to young Arabs in the Negev. Previously, she coordinated AJEEC’s BridgeTech project, which helps outstanding high-school graduates from Bedouin society enter the hi-tech and engineering professions. She also coordinated referrals at clinics belonging to the Clalit health fund in Bedouin communities in the Negev. Shoma also worked in non-formal education, as the coordinator of an excellence program at the Segev Shalom community center and in the Good Neighborhood program operated by Ben-Gurion University’s department of conflict management and resolution in Kasr al-Sir, Yeruham, and Dimona. In addition, she coordinated the Perach mentoring program in three schools in Kasr al-Sir, Lakiya, and Segev Shalom. Shoma holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and policy from Sapir College and a diploma in group facilitation from Gishot College. She lives in Kasr al-Sir, located community in the Neve Midbar regional council.

Kifah Shlalfa

Lawyer, Social Activist, Volunteering Coordinator, Women’s Advisor, Segev Shalom

Kifah Shlalfa is the volunteering coordinator and the women’s advancement advisor for the Segev Shalom local council. She is responsible for recruiting volunteers, planning volunteering projects, training volunteers, and preparing teams of volunteers for emergency situations. Her women’s advancement work includes the development of various projects and programs, as well as the creation of the Segev Shalom Women’s Council. Previously, she worked as a coordinator and mentor to at-risk youth for the Mezach Network’s rights-based community practice centers in Segev Shalom. Kifah holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from Sapir College. She lives in Segev Shalom.

Salem Tohi

Elementary School Principal, Neve Midbar Regional Council

Salem Tohi is principal of the Bir Asluj Elementary School in Bir Hadaj, a community in the Neve Midbar regional council. Previously, he worked as a physical education teacher and field trip coordinator. He also led a project for coexistence with nearby Jewish communities, and a project to increase parental involvement in his school. Salem holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education and sports for excluded and at-risk communities from Kaye Academic College of Education, and is a graduate of Avney Rosha – the Israel Institute for School Leadership. He lives in Bir Hadaj.

About The Program