Step into the world of the Bedouin women of Burda village to learn about the weaving tradition and the women’s role in desert life, following by a homemade traditional meal. Weaving is integral to Bedouin life and is the domain of the women. It is an arduous task, and one that requires cooperation. Bedouins use ground looms, which require two or three people working together to assemble the loom and thread the wool. Ground looms are used as they can easily be assembled and taken apart, much needed for a nomadic way of life. The hair from their goats and sheep was spun into wool, and colored with natural dyes, such as hibiscus for red, turmeric for yellow, juniper and henna for brown. The most important woven item is the tent, made of goat hair, which swells when wet making the tents waterproof after the first rains, and shrinks when dry, allowing the breeze through when it’s warmer. The cooperative has a display of both new and antique traditional Bedouin woven items. Weaving is an integral part of Bedouin history and heritage, and each woven piece tells a story of life in the desert. Distinctive value The women have inherited the traditional weaving skills from their mothers and grandmothers, and are preserving local weaving practices while producing lovely local products and souvenirs. The work of the cooperative supports its 75 women members, most of whom are mothers, by providing jobs and incomes in an area where opportunities for women to work are limited.