Child, youth and adult education
We believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity to learn and that education is the key to empowering refugees and asylum seekers to become self-sufficient. Without proficiency in Hebrew and English refugees and asylum seekers remain disadvantaged, isolated and marginalised. In response to this need, the ARDC opened the Refugee Education Center in Tel Aviv in January 2009. We deliver educational and support programs to refugee and asylum seeker children, unaccompanied minors and adults. Our programs aim to develop their skill set and communication skills so as to help them integrate into the local community or to be a part of the reconstruction of their country of origin upon their return.
Read our Education Center Report January – July 2009 (.pdf file)
Our Current Programs
Children’s Program
We provide the School Preparation Project for newly arrived children who are waiting to enroll in an Israeli school. We also provide offer the Language Tutoring Project for children who have already entered the Israeli school system to further develop their Hebrew language skills during the transition period. The children of both projects receive intensive, individual Hebrew tuition four times a week. Tutors work in collaboration with schools and teachers to ensure lesson topics and teaching materials correspond to those used in the Israeli classroom. All of our volunteers have a professional background in education.
We also run music and keyboard classes for the children. The opportunity for creative self-expression is in itself a form of therapy and the children learn to express themselves through a non-verbal form of communication.
Unaccompanied Youth Program
In close partnership with Noar HaOved ve HaLomed, an Israeli youth movement specializing informal education, we provide Hebrew tuition to unaccompanied youth thereby increasing their ability to lead independent lives in Israel and their opportunities for employment. We also facilitate four support groups: Girls’ Group, the Darfurian Group, the West African Group and the Hip Hop Group. These groups are designed to help them acquire the language, practical skills and knowledge necessary to integrate into Israeli society and increase their opportunities for employment.
Adult Program
Hebrew, English and French language tuition for adult refugees and asylum seekers constitutes the core component of the Center’s activities. We seek to deliver language classes over 400 adults annually to improve their literacy levels, thereby increasing their ability to function independently and secure employment. The Center also serves as a base from which to counsel, inform and guide refugees and asylum seekers in issues related to education, employment and other social and welfare needs. For instance, we advise and guide those seeking to apply to post-secondary institutions through the selection process and explore scholarships opportunities to support them through the course. To date, we have helped four refugees fulfil their dream to attend university.
