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Make a Difference in Ashdod
Your support will help create a brighter future for Ethiopian-Israelis in Ashdod!
The Challenge
Ashdod, which dates back to the 17th century B.C., is Israel’s fifth largest city. The city is home to Israel’s largest port, which receives 60% of the country’s imported cargo. Ashdod is also well known for its natural beauty as Ashdod-Nitzanim, a twenty-kilometer stretch of sand dunes and nature reserves, lies on the city’s southern outskirts.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (2019), Ashdod has a population of roughly 226,000 and is home to one of the country’s largest Ethiopian-Israeli communities. Ethiopian-Israelis account for roughly 3% of Ashdod’s total population. Approximately 40% of Ethiopian-Israelis in Ashdod are aged 17 or younger.
A positive change for Ethiopian-Israeli citizens of Ashdod
While Ethiopian-Israelis have historically been of lower socioeconomic standing than the general Israeli population, a Brookdale Institute research study indicates that Ashdod’s Ethiopian-Israeli population is making positive progress:
•Unemployment rates have been on the decline for Ethiopian-Israeli men and women age 44 and under. More widespread proficiency in Hebrew means an easier time getting jobs.
•Since 2002, participations rates in after school activities (children ages 6 - 13) have steadily increased (43% of Ethiopian-Israeli households in Ashdod have at least 6 children).