The Ethiopian-Israeli community in Israel currently numbers around 120,000 with over 60% under the age of 18. Over 75% of families live below the poverty line, with high unemployment among adults. Over 20% of children live in single-parent families, and two thirds of them live in poverty. Standardized nation-wide tests in schools reveal large gaps in achievement levels, and by middle school, many children’s academic skills are 3 years below grade level, setting the scene for dropping out of high school and the bleak prospects facing any young Israeli with no educational qualifications.
Research released in 2014 by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute on the integration and performance of Ethiopian students in the Israeli education system confirmed that there are still large gaps in achievement levels for all subjects throughout school. Statistics showed that 28.5% of all Israeli Jews aged 22-35 are beginning a university degree, although the percentage shrinks drastically to 5.7% for the Ethiopian community.
Hadera currently has over 400 elementary school children of Ethiopian origin. Maksam is the only after-school program available to them that provides a subsidized, proven solution.
There are 3 ways you can support Maksam:
1 – Make a donation – every little bit helps.
2 – Volunteer at one of our centers – we need your support!