Learning & Enrichment Centers
The Learning and Enrichment Center in Beit Safafa is Bakehila's largest center, serving more than 100 children each year. Children participating in the afternoon activities at the center, receive a hot meal, extra-curricular programming and assistance with school work including focused study groups led by professional teachers and volunteers.
The center is a pioneer project in this neighborhood, and has thus far significantly impacted the community and its children over the past five years of operation. School test scores continue to rise, and community awareness and a sense of volunteerism has taken root, transforming the neighborhood into a sustainable and thriving community in its sector.
In January 2015, Bakehila opened two new Learning and Enrichment Centers in the Arab neighborhoods of Ein Rafah and in Israel's Northern region, both serving approximately 50 kids each.
Creating opportunities for minorities; raising the scholastic level in Arab neighborhoods; enhancing community life.
Only 12% of students enrolled in Israeli colleges and universities are Arabs. Arab-Israeli students score, on average, 100 points lower than Israeli students on the psychometry exam- a basic required exam for entering most Israeli colleges and universities, putting them at an extreme disadvantage for acceptance into university.
Bakehila's prepatory program targets this exact issue, by implementing an academic program for high-school age Arab-Israeli youth in Beit Safafa, to develop the necessary skills to achieve competitive scores on the psychometry exam.
Students selected to partake in this program are considered young leaders in their community and are required to commit to a certain number of hours volunteering with the local youth each week. This requirement not only helps the children in their community, but also develops the students as emerging community leaders.
Pre-Academic Mechina
100% of partcipants in the Learning and Enrichment Center in Beit Safafa report that they enjoy spending their time and learning there.
81% of students report they have experienced an increase in their confidence when approaching their school work.
Students have raised their scores by 8-15 points on average after participating in the Learning and Enrichment Center.
Fast Facts
