sending...Formally established in 1999, Mahapach-Taghir was founded by a group of students in Jerusalem, who were influenced by the student campaigns against tuition raises which took place during that time. The campaigns resulted in the longest student strike to take place yet. However, this particular group thought that the energy and power of passionate students should be utilized for the greater good and in order to bring about social change rather then just thier own benefit as students. They set out to volunteer in the marginalized neighborhood of Kattamonim, where they begun to recognize the dire need for after school educational and social programming for the neighborhood children. The learning center they had started for the children became a hub for community activism as parents gradually became involved in their children’s educational experience. Through this involvement, the students were constantly confronted by the neglect and lack of resources faced by residents and helped start a mutual process of communal empowerment which led to the establishment of the Learning Community and other community campaigns in Kattamonim.
The Learning Community, which became the heart of each and every Mahapach–Taghir community, offers children and youth pedagogical and social tutoring, while encouraging the involvement of adult residents in the pedagogical process and thus in the empowerment of the entire community. This model was developed following the principles of Critical Pedagogy and was adjusted to conditions in Israel by experts in the field of education. Since its inception Mahapach-Taghir has grown to 7 Communities, serving over 650 children and families and facilitating the work and training of over 150 academic students nation wide.
Through its work Mahapach-Taghir promotes an alternative discourse that involves gaining familiarity with other’s narratives and needs, nurturing of a positive self-perspective of identity and encouraging inter-communal solidarity and partnership based on shared human rights values. Consequently, Jewish-Arab women organizational Co-Directorship was established in June 2006. This feminist and equal management model sends an important message to all of Mahapach-Taghir’s communities, that a Jewish-Arab partnership is possible.
In the past several years, Kattamonim has seen a substantial growth in community services offered by the Communal Administration and increased involvement of city authorities in providing after-school programs. This increase can partially be attributed to residents’ advocacy and activism, encouraged and motivated by the Mahapach-Taghir involvement. Consequently, in summer 2010, following deliberations, the Mahapach-Taghir board of directors decided close the Kattamonim Learning Community and open a new Learning Community in the Northern village of Mghar in place.