Asaf's Story

Youth in School

City: Gedera

One doesn’t have to speak to Asaf for very long to recognise what a change ENP's SPACE Program has made in his life. Once upon a time Asaf was disinterested in school and disruptive in class. He did not enjoy learning and was showing no signs of improving his grades or his attitude. Born in Israel to Ethiopian parents, speaking a mixture of Amharic and Hebrew at home, Asaf found it difficult to access some of the material being presented at school. He said he would sit there and try ‘to think about something else’. But today the situation is very different. For the past four years Asaf has been benefiting from the SPACE program at his school in Gedera. He receives six hours of extra tuition every week in English, math and history. The small class setting, enthusiastic teaching and camaraderie of the program has completely altered his approach to study. Beaming, he reports that now he actually ‘likes school’ and puts his energy into focusing during class as opposed to getting attention from other students. Asaf seems genuinely surprised at not only the change the program has made in his life at school – but at the change in himself. Beforehand, study was an uphill battle with boredom and he found it hard to see the point of many subjects, history for example. Now he verily bubbles over with enthusiasm when describing his teachers and their curriculum. In his family of 6 he is the baby and his parents are very happy that their youngest has made such a turnaround. When he is not studying Asaf enjoys playing soccer and being with his friends. Before finishing the interview he was keen to add that history is now his ‘favorite subject...especially Napoleon’!