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Make a Difference in Kiryat Malachi
Your support will help create a brighter future for Ethiopian-Israelis in Kiryat Malachi!
The Challenge
In the Southern District of Israel, 17 kilometers northeast from Ashkelon lies the city Kiryat Malachi. The literal meaning of the city’s name is the City of Angels. The city name is chosen to honor the Jewish community of Los Angeles, California that helped in establishing and developing this town.
Acts of exclusion and educational challenges in Kiryat Malachi
An estimation of 20,900 citizens inhabit this southern city. Among those, 3,258 have Ethiopian origin, a high percentage of around 15.6%. 436 Ethiopian-Israeli inhabitants are between 13 and 18 years old.
In Kiryat Malachi:
• Ethiopian-Israeli citizens, unfortunately, still experience acts of racism: In January 2012 demonstrations were held by protesters against discrimination of Ethiopian immigrants after housing committees refused to sell apartment to Ethiopians;
• There still exists a gap between Ethiopian-Israeli and non-Ethiopian Israeli citizens, partially due to acts of racism;
• Many families are under the direct care of the welfare authorities;
• The resources available to local schools are more limited, like they are in more periphery cities; consequently, they cannot provide adequate enrichment and sometimes even basic educational support. There is, therefore, a vicious cycle by which economic and social deprivation leads to more limited educational investment, which in turn perpetuates limited achievement and deprivation and impacts the prospects of future generations of children.