Volume 7, Issue 9 / Elul 5764 / September 2004
Developing the Promise of the Future
"This program has helped me improve my grades in school," says Dvorah Zaro, her dark eyes glowing. She is referring to a special program initiated by the Jewish Agency with the support of the New York Federation's annual campaign, to cultivate scientific and technological skills among youngsters of Ethiopian origin. Dvorah, age fifteen and a half, is participating in the program together with her twin sister, Leah. The girls, who have just completed a week-long summer camp that is an integral part of the program, will soon be starting tenth grade at the Ulpana High School in the town of Yavneh. Although not identical twins, they share many common interests. Both are good, highly motivated students. They are not daunted by the heavy workload at the school, whose curriculum, as a religious institution, includes a heavy dose of Jewish studies – the Bible, Prophets, Mishna, etc. – in addition to the standard course of study: biology, physics, mathematics, English, and history. Only a year old when their family made aliyah in 1991, the twins are virtual "sabras". Dressed in the modest "uniform" of religious girls – long skirts and high-necked dresses with elbow length sleeves – their speech is peppered with the slang of young Israelis. Although there are several other girls of Ethiopian origin at the school, their friends come from all backgrounds. The girls live with their parents and six siblings – they are in the middle of their large family – in a three-room apartment in Yavneh. Their mother works with the elderly and their father is unemployed.
The program to cultivate scientific and technological skills among youngsters of Ethiopian origin was launched as a pilot project in 1999 at the Technion. Shortly thereafter it was expanded to the Weizmann Institute as well. The goal is to develop scientific thinking among Ethiopian youth and to increase the likelihood of their pursuing academic careers, specifically in the sciences and high tech. By bridging cultural and educational gaps and familiarizing youngsters of Ethiopian origin with an academic environment, it is hoped that higher education will become a natural option for them.
Now in the third year of the program, Dvorah and Leah, and their parents were initially contacted by a counselor at the Ulpana, who explained the program to them. They were selected to participate after a week-long summer camp with enrichment activities, followed by an examination. During the academic year, the program meets twice a week after school at the Weizmann Institute. One day focuses on enrichment activities – astronomy, chemistry, biology, chess, photograph, computers, and English. The second day is devoted to tutoring and help with studies given by mentors, who are students at Weizmann. Some 100 youngsters are taking part in the program. Some 60 to 70% have succeeded in significantly raising their grades.
Every summer program participants meet for a week-long summer camp, which provides intensive instruction in specific topics and trips to places of interest. The twins found the program very stimulating. "On Sunday, we studied the brain, on Tuesday the cell," says Leah. "We also took trips to interesting places throughout the country, such as the Israel Museum and the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem, a dog training center, an archaeological museum, etc."
"The program helps us with our studies, and enables us to make new friends," they concur with satisfaction.
Written by: Shifra Paikin
Photos by: Shlomy Ben AmiTo download this file as a word document, click here.
