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Above Picture: Operation
Solomon - Arriving to the Promised Land
The Ethiopian Community in Israel Today
There are 87,000 Ethiopians in Israel
today. 30% are Israeli born. 55% are age 18 or
under. 70% of Ethiopian were illiterate when
they arrived. 90% of the Ethiopian immigrants attended Ulpan - the
fast learning course for Hebrews, but most found it difficult to adopt a
Western style of learning. Most of the older generation is
unable to read, write or even hold a conversation in Hebrew. Many
men of the first immigrant groups, now ages 44-65, are unemployed.
That means that 66% of families have no breadwinner and live on the
Government welfare system.
The government, in cooperation with
the Joint Distribution Committee, is concentrating its efforts on the
future generation, an urgent need because Ethiopian parents, unlike
other Israelis, lack a tradition of helping their children with
studies. Progress is being made. Three years ago,
school attendance among Ethiopian Israelis was only 50%; today it is
70%. The hope is that in two or three years it will reach 95% -
the Israeli standard. High school matriculation was 7% ten years ago.
Today it is 30%. Again, there is an expectation that this
may soon reach the level of 50%.
There is also progress in other
fields, as 2,000 Ethiopians are pursuing academic studies beyond the
high school level. Also, 60 Ethiopian Israelis, including 11 women, are
IDF officers. There are 6 lawyers, 14 engineers, 20 teachers, 30 Rabbis,
over 200 nurses, 3 members of city councils and 200 associations of all
kinds. All this demonstrates a rising level of political and social
involvement.
We see progress. To have it continue, we have
to double our efforts to achieve equality sooner rather than later.
SFEJ/KHA
Grants
Grants are awarded to students in the
following categories:
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Master or doctoral
degree candidates needing help to complete their studies.
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Undergraduate parents
who wish to upgrade their educational and professional level.
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Men and women (over
age 30) who do not qualify for educational assistance from government
and institutional sources.
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Students working
towards a specialized diploma to advance their employment level.
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Following grants were awarded by funds raised through the efforts of SFEJ & KHA:
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1994 - Only five
Ethiopian graduate students in Israel; all funds were divided among
these students
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1995 - 11
applications received; all were approved/awarded grants
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1998 - 120
grants awarded
- 2002 - 269 grants awarded
- 2003 - 271 grants awarded
DEGREES & CAREER CHOICES OF SFEJ
STUDENTS
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Computer Science
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Educational Counseling
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Business Administration
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Mechanical Engineering
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Public Administration
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Medical Secretary
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Software Engineering
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Criminology
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Law
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Space Engineering
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Political Science
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Teaching
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Nursing
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Communications
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Lab Technician
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TV Engineering
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Biotechnology
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Physical Education
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English
INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED BY SFEJ
STUDENTS
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