Yaniv grew up in a small town in the center of Israel called Ramat Hasharon. Yaniv obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science and the History of the Middle East from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel. Yaniv conducted his internship at the High Atlas Foundation, based in Marrakech, Morocco. Yaniv created a Men's Empowerment Workshop from a Feminist Perspective, for the local rural population. Later in his internship, he facilitated a similar workshop in the organization's offices, as a training and enrichment opportunity for the staff. One of the main tools Yaniv will take with him from his experience in the field relates to the tensions between social change and self-empowerment; in particular, how to combine the vocabulary and methodologies used in social change and critical approaches with the methodologies of self-empowerment. 

 

Lala Turia | Yaniv Teitel

 I chose the picture of Lala Turia as a representation of the word empowerment for me. Lala Turia takes upon herself the traditional "motherly" role in the office: she prepares breakfast and lunch and cleans the office every day. Usually, we don't see or hear Lala Turia, as she is almost always in the background, and usually keeps her thoughts to herself. Even though there was a language barrier, we very found a way into each other's hearts. When I developed a social change workshop, I consulted with her regularly. More importantly, when I conducted a workshop for the staff, she joined us in the circle (as a member of the team), and took a central and important part in the group—having an opportunity to be heard and to speak, as well as listen to others. The opportunity to listen to those we usually don't see or hear is the meaning of empowerment as I see it—both for the speaker and for the listeners. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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