sending...Kiyat HaYovel neighborhood, home to approximately 25,000 residents, is located in the southeast of Jerusalem and borders Ein Karem, Bayit Vagan and Malcha. The neighborhood was built in the early 1950′s as a large a public housing project, designed to accommodate the thousands of Jews who fled from Arab countries during those times. Today, there are small parts of the neighborhood which are populated by upper-middle class residents. However, the majority of residents, who are of Mizrahi descent or new immigrants from Ethiopia and the Former USSR, still suffer from poverty and marginalization. The neighborhood is one of Jerusalem’s poorest.
The Learning Community focuses on answering the needs of older children (5th -12th grade). The younger age group (5-6th graders) receive pedagogic support in reading, writing, mathematics and. The older, high school aged group has been participating in a program called the “Mahresha” in which Students offer the youth individualized academic tutoring and a framework for social activity, focusing on developing learning skills and preparing for the high school matriculation exams.
The Kiryat Yovel Learning Community also operates a monthly Free Market event every last Friday of the month, which offers neighborhood residents the opportunity to meet, interact, and learn more about the activities of the Learning Community. These events allow for the exchange of clothing and domestic articles at no charge.
In the summers, the Community in Kiryat Yovel hosts the ‘Transitions” program, a joint effort with the Communal Administration and other organizations to provide a summer preparatory school program for 6th graders transitioning to junior high. The intensive study program conducted by professional educators and volunteer students helps children close pedagogic gaps before the challenging transition to junior high.
The Steering Committee and Women’s Group are particularly active in this Community. Several of the active women created the “Second Opportunity” program which enabled 27 women from the community to pursue an academic degree at the David Yellin College. Participants undertake communal service initiatives and oversee projects in the neighborhood as part of their educational curriculum and scholarship requirements. Meanwhile, their effort and success serve as an inspiring example for their families and for others in the community. The group is very important to the women and the community as a whole.
To learn more and get involved, contact Shaqued Morag, the Kiryat Yovel Community Coordinator at 054-760-8122, or kiryatyovel@mahapach-taghir.org