New Beginnings, New Challenges
After opening the school year on the 1st of September and as we approach Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year), the crisp fall air is full of adaptation and preparation for new beginnings. New beginnings, as we all know, are usually accompanied by a healthy dose of challenges. And right now, Bakehila is going through a very new beginning of its own - our Jerusalem-based organization is branching out to work with a city outside of Israel's capital for the very first time.
Rishon Letzion, Israel's fourth largest city, boasts a young, dynamic and fairly upscale population who report a wonderful quality of life and superb municipal services provided for them. Indeed, Rishon Letzion's municipality is one of the top-funded in Israel. But all of this means that the disadvantaged neighborhoods of the area, quality of life inferior by far, are mostly overlooked by organizations, non-profit programs and funding, and, as such are left without much in the way of change or better opportunities. It is within one of these communities, Ramat Eliyahu, that Bakehila will begin working, using our model for education, enrichment and community building.
"The Ramat Eliyahu community is mainly made up of Ethiopian new-immigrants who lack resources, knowledge and don't have functional Hebrew. It is completely cut off from the rest of the city, and looks completely different too," says Merav Hahn, YS fellow, "The streets are filthy, the smell of sewage is everywhere and the families live in "train" building complexes. After speaking to some of the residents here, we realized that each family is just trying to get through the day, with no awareness of living within a community and no wish to be involved in one. I sincerely hope we manage to change that."
Bakehila's programming in Ramat Eliyahu will include scholastic help in schools and in our model Learning and Enrichment Centers, as well as extra-curricular activities, work in youth clubs and the "I Have a Dream" project - which exposes kids to professionals in fields they dream to pursue. In addition, we will be encouraging community empowerment via community events, contact with families and the elderly, and the creation of a dialogue between the residents and the authorities - allowing the community members to be involved in decision-making and expressing their needs.
"This is a great chance to grow outside of our comfort zone as an organization," says Judith Sher-Yogev, Program Manager, "We're taking our signature model, that has evolved and advanced after 13 years in the field, and applying it to a community that has had minimal help until today. We're excited to see how it will impact Ramat Eliyahu as a community."
Six Year of Service fellows have begun working in Ramat Eliyahu, and are looking forward to implementing new projects there, such as girls' empowerment, art, music and even community karaoke – in addition to our regular programming.
"I believe that anything is possible, even when the conditions are bleak," says Lior, YS fellow, "And I want the kids I work with this year to believe it too: anything is possible."
