Assist Ethiopian Jews Bridge Socio-Economic Gaps

Dear friends and supporters;

I am pleased to attach the report for the project: Assist Ethiopian Jews Bridge Socio-Economic Gaps

During this quarter we have  continued working on direction, growth and personal development of the participants.

Within the framework of the Foundation  two flagship programs "Vision" and "Star", we have continued to provide a range of empowerment activities, extra classes and exposure in the path to excellence and breakthrough.

During this quarter we have also introduced workshops and new and exciting activities as in the example of the debate workshop, the development of product technology workshops and other special activities.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your commitment to us, for being at our side and assisting us in making the change we wish to generate within the Israeli society.

The Star Program

The Ariela Star Program is a holistic, intensive and ongoing framework that promotes personal, educational and social growth amongst Israeli youngsters of Ethiopian origin. The main objectives for each participant include personal enrichment, development of life skills for success, obtaining a high quality high school diploma, completion of meaningful army service and academic studies.  Acceptance requirements into the program include above average grades, high levels of motivation and parental support

 1.Summary of personal talks with the coordinators summing up six month of studies:

During the academic year personal summary talks were held with the students.  The talks included a survey of the processes and activities undergone by every participant, the places where success was recorded were noted and matters requiring improvement were noted. The talks set personal targets in preparation for the second half of the academic year.  The students shared their fears and difficulties they faced with the move to the high school, but noted with great satisfaction that despite this they had succeeded in their studies and attained high grades.  Some of the participants expressed a wish for more meetings with the educational coordinators, something which sometimes was not possible due to the heavy work load of the timetable and syllabus. The participants noted that within the framework of the activities that had taken place in the first quarter, they had learned a lot about themselves and improved their self-expression skill and social integration.

The Participants speak:

Gila “Last year my mother was not happy with me, but this year she is much more satisfied, she sees that I am persisting with my studies, doing all the tasks and lessons and participating in extra lessons at ariela.  I have greatly improved thanks to the activities at the organization

Hodaya: “I used to be shy even in speaking to taxi drivers or ordering a pizza and I was ashamed to participate in school activities.  Today I am the one who speaks during activities and participates in class”.

Remarkable achievements:

 The student Biote successfully completed the first half with grades of 87 in Math and 85 in English.The student Malkman’s grades shot up and reached 85 in Math compared to 73 last year.

The student Pasika received 80 in English compared to 60 during the previous half, and 100 in Math, and achieved an average certificate grade of 92! Last year Eden failed English, in this half year she received 76

The student Ronit improved her grade in History from 75 last year to 100 this year. The student Asher achieved an average grade of 91. The student Taklala who had difficulties in English last year achieved a grade of 93 in this subject and 93 in Math.

2.The Debate workshop:

As part of the empowerment program the students took part in a special debate workshop, where they learned about the principles of “the art of argument” and tried out practical activity:

The participants were divided into two groups and raised a question for debate, with each group having a different opinion. The participants went up, one after the other, and presented their arguments to the assembly.  The question raised for debate was whether the Ministry of Education should approve schools where Ethiopian immigrants constitute more than 50% of all the students.

The workshop was conducted as a preparation for the coordinator activity on the subject of presentation and self display.

The students’ impressions: Student “the activity gave me a lot!  I discovered that it was not too complicated to speak when you know what you want to say”. Student:  It was interesting and helpful to learn how to overcome the fear involved in standing before an audience”.

3. Exposure to Technology: 

Application Development:

As part of the Techonlogy  program, the students were invited to “Hackton” a whole day and night marathon where the students were occupied in the development of a smartphone application.  The event took place with the participation of 140 more students from all over Israel in the Google offices in Tel Aviv.  The very fact of going to the impressive building caused great excitement among the group.  The students who were divided up into work groups spent all day and night planning and afterwards developing the application using tools and technologies given to them.  Not only did the Star students “survive” the night, they also succeeded in executing several impressive ideas among them an application to help decide what to wear in the morning, an application for “online” updating of the syllabus and more.

Also in this quarter we continued varied activity in the fields of technology:

-Studying basic programming codes and at the end-developing a game

-Background in html in which the students learned how to build and design their first Internet page

-.A tour of the “Outdesk” company, an international software company.  Getting to know the structure of a Hi-tech company, getting to know the office holders and the various departments and a lecture on development

--A lecture on information security online.

-.A lecture on initiatives:  given by a design graduate of Betsalel during which the students observed a range of product development projects  and patents from all over the world and learned about the process that a product goes through from the idea stage until its actual marketing.

5.Development of leadership & getting to know Israel:

In this quarter the students sent on a two day field trip to the Lower Galilee in the North for which they had planned for about two weeks.  The process for getting ready for the trip was also an experience in itself because in this way the students gained experience in planning, studying about the nature and the environment and also activity for getting know about Israel and its borders, sights & characteristics.  Alongside this content, the students continued to get together and divided up jobs and tool responsibility. It can be summed up that the students showed  improvement and learning compared to the previous trip and the way in which they coped with difficulties.  The program coordinators positively note the adult atmosphere, the enjoyment and educational value the students gained from the trip

6.Additional activities in the Tel Aviv group:

 *An Army preparatory seminar, in conjunction with the “ZinukBaliya” org’ and the Yaffo Lev Center. Becoming acquainted with the selection process for the elite units and a lecture on rights in military service

*A communications and standing before an audience seminar led by the “Ethiopian Population Debate Club”

*Student meetings and mentoring with Samsung where the students continue to meet and reinforce the relationship with the tutors.

*A guest lecture by the founder of the Mimouna website that specializes in raising funds for projects via the Internet

A window to Hi-tech: a lecture on the Hi-tech’s world, what curves exist, what are the salary ranges offered and how to integrate into the field

7.Good deeds day:

The ness Ziona group activity:

Volunteering on the Good Deeds Day at the welfare after school club in Ness Ziona.  They volunteered together with tutors from “El Op”.  The students and the tutors prepared activities for the children including a creativity corner and costumes for Purim, questionnaires with prizes, and they also helped in designing and arranging the place, planted flowers and plants in window boxes, drew attractive pictures on the walls and more.  Finally the students took the after school club children and played ball games with them in the yard.The students summed up the day as a great personal experience.  “The first time I feel like I have made a contribution”, “The activity with the children made me think about things and appreciate myself more…”

The Tel Aviv group activity:

The students, accompanied by volunteers from Samsung company volunteered at the “Gil” special education school where children with learning difficulties such as cerebral palsy, autism and various syndromes  study with the aim of cheering them up before Purim. Notwithstanding the many difficulties anticipated in advance and despite the students being deterred by the meeting with the pupils at the school due to their disabilities, the coordinator and the volunteers did the best they could in order to cheer up the school pupils and with the aim of giving the students a personal example and confidence.  The students and volunteers got the pupils into the festive atmosphere via various activities such as singing together, dancing together and distributing gifts  for Purim

8.Additional notable activities during the quarter:

 Exposure to higher education: activities and discussion on the subject of the method of selecting a course and getting to know the new fields and subjects

Ambitions and life choices:watching a film about a person suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome and his success despite the difficulty.  A discussion of the subject of  believing in oneself, setting goals and sticking to a task

Presentation before the public: Every student tried to convey a subject before the group and received feedback.  In this activity the students learned about the best way of presenting a subject effectively and provoking interest

once again thank you for standing by us, enabling us to continue working in order to promote excellence among young people of Ethiopian origin in Israel.

Links:

• The Star Program
• The Story of Ethiopian Jews