By Judy Yuda, Partnership 2000 Yokneam-Megiddo Director

On Thursday, October 11th, a very special group of 14 women from the Women's Division of "The Temple" visited Yokneam-Megiddo, Atlanta's partner region.

Welcoming the group at the Yokneam JCC was a group of 10 women from the region who take part in a special training program known as  operated by the Economic Empowerment for Women NGO in Israel.  The program is facilitated in the region jointly between the Yokneam JCC, Megiddo's Maavarim program and Anat Harel, the Regional Economic Coordinator.  The program works with women from low-income families, providing them with a wide range of tools to create and advance their own small businesses as a means for a better livelihood and a way out of poverty. During a candid discussion with members of the group, they learned of both the challenges these women face and what their hopes and dreams are for the future.

In addition to this, the visitors met with Dr. Esther Carmel-Hakim, a member of Kibbutz Ramat Hashofet who talked about challenges for Israeli Women from the early 1900's to today. They also learned from Yael Shapira, Atlanta Community Representative in Israel about the important work being done within the framework of education and social services in the Yokneam-Megiddo region thanks to Federation support.

The group had a chance to view the wonderful wares that the women were working on, jewelry, paintings and other arts and craft objects (a chance for some "personal shopping").

The "cherry on the cake" was dinner.  The visitors broke into small groups and were hosted at the homes of the women for a very special and personal experience.  As usual, the hardest part of the visit was tearing the visitors away from their hosts and getting them back on the bus.

Pictures by Lynne Keating, veteran friend of Partnership 2000 Yokneam-Megiddo