There are approximately 55,000 African asylum seekers who have ventured from various countries to Israel in search of safety to escape violence in their native lands. However, once arriving in Israel, often their legal status is in a chronic state of flux, thus deeming it extremely difficult to engage in many aspects of life in their new home.
The African Refugee Development Center (ARDC) in Tel Aviv, Israel, is trying to make a difference. Yohannes Bayu, a refugee from Ethiopia, who is still the Executive Director today, founded the ARDC in 2004. Bayu was motivated by his own difficult experience as an asylum seeker in Israel and strove to help others in his position.
The mission of the African Refugee Development Center is to protect and empower refugees and asylum seekers in Israel. The ARDC seeks to ensure access to basic social services, and to facilitate refugee and asylum seeker integration, self-sufficiency and ownership in matters affecting their lives. In response to the community’s overwhelming request for it in recent years, a huge emphasis has been placed on providing education opportunities.
Without proficiency in Hebrew and English, refugees and asylum seekers remain disadvantaged, isolated and marginalised. Limited Hebrew and/or English skills heighten depression and social isolation amongst asylum seekers as it prevents them from functioning independently in Israeli society. They often experience acute frustration in everyday situations and in the workplace for their lack of Hebrew and English, making them vulnerable to exploitation as they cannot negotiate for improved terms of employment or safer working conditions.
By delivering language tuition to refugees and asylum seekers of all ages and facilitating access to vocational training, private tutoring, and higher education, many people’s lives have improved.
“I am writing these few lines to express my gratitude towards the assistance and help that I received from this organization. … My Hebrew and English have progress significantly. … I finally started communicating,” said Abdel, asylum seeker from Central African Republic.
The programs aims to develop their communication skills in order to help them integrate into the local community and/or to be a part of the reconstruction of their country of origin upon their return. This program also proves to be a very rewarding experience for the cohort of approximately 25 volunteer teachers.
“My time teaching English to adult asylum seekers has been both challenging and extremely rewarding. When my class started, only one of my students could write their name in English and now they can write and carry on full conversations coherently,” said Aminah, a volunteer English teacher.
“Although their situation is extremely difficult in almost every way, knowing that we are providing asylum seekers the opportunity to improve their situation is not only motivating but also very rewarding,” said Julia, former Education Programme Manager.
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Written by Ashleigh Brown