kayan feminist organization's photostream  

Kayan, which means “Being” 'in Arabic, is a feminist organization established by and for Arab women living in Israel. The founders of Kayan felt the need to address the specific challenges that these women face- both as women in a patriarchal Arab society, and also as Arab citizens of Israel. Founded in 1998, Kayan is a capacity-building non-governmental organization devoted to women's development. As an organization dedicated to the personal and collective empowerment of women, Kayan is committed to strengthening women and women's initiatives and to help gender-mainstream Arab women in Israel.

Kayan's mission is
1. To bring feminism and feminist perspectives to Arab society in Israel, and affect a radical change in the way Arab women view themselves, and thereby catalyze independence and pro-action.
2. To recognize Arab women's special contributions and needs, and at the same time, advocate for equity, equal rights and improved status.
3. To eliminate all forms of discrimination against Arab women, and work towards achieving full and equal rights- legally, socially and economically.

Kayan offers a wide array of courses, knowledge-based trainings, mentoring programs and activities with women's groups and associations, with non-profits, and with the public. Empowering women and women's groups to be pro-active, Kayan works to achieve the goal or women's full participation in the private and public spheres of society.

Kayan's current projects are focused towards women's empowerment and gender-equity include but are in no sense limited to grassroots skills and capacity building, knowledge-based training, civil and legal demands, networking and coalitions and international advocacy. Kayan organizes, educates and motivates women to be vocal, visible and participatory members of society.

Kayan is a member of the Haifa Women's Coalition together with Isha L'Isha-Haifa Feminist Center, the Haifa Battered Women's Hotline, and the Haifa Rape Crisis Center. All four groups are working for women's equality and against gender-based violence.

Online donations to Kayan can be made at www.israelgives.org/amuta/580345247