New immigrants – News from the Absorption center Mevaseret Zion.

For one of the cottages small chilies are being dried. A little further, we see a woman, crouched down, grinding the chilies in a jar. After we see a mother who walks with a baby on her back. We talk for a while with a soldier, who…

The Mevaseret Zion absorption center for Ethiopian Jews was established in 1999 and is located in a residential community near a shopping center, kindergarten and public transport. The campus of 50 acres has 415 houses for new immigrants and 25 community buildings, including classrooms, multipurpose halls, computer rooms, offices and activity rooms.
Activities for residents include Hebrew lessons (“ulpan”), courses to integrate, children’s activities, after school activities, workshops for children and adults on various topics. More than 50% of them are children under the age of 18
The children go to daycare and schools in Jerusalem, several high school students are in boarding school in other parts of the country.
The bad news is that unfortunately this center in Mevassaret has to close in a few years.
The staffs works closely with the residents and helps themto understand the housing market in Israel.  At present Ethiopian immigrants stay fort wo years in an absorption center, after which they leave for their own apartment.
It won’t be easy as several people are alone and elderly. They are trying to make programs. Perhaps the families want to adopt and take care of an elderly person?
Whilst walking through the center, we understand that this center is the most sought after by the Ethiopian. For one of the cottages small chilies are being dried. A little further, we see a woman, crouched down, grinding the chilies in a jar. After we see a mother who walks with a baby on her back. We talk for a while with a soldier, who approached us. Three years ago he made Aliyah and last summer he fought in Gaza. A place where the differences between Ethiopia and Israel are not so big. But then the time is there to stand on their own feet.
After a conversation with two dedicated social workers at the center, we decide that the best support will be to help young people to study, so they will be able to support themselves in the future and also to take care of their families.
We have seen how wonderful it is to invest in other young people.This is not a temporary but this is an investment for life.

We have received a request for two Ethiopians. Ivro is 24 years old, and has a daughter of 7 years old. Three years ago she made Aliyah and has been working for a year in the kitchen of a hotel. She would like to become a professional baker. This means a course of 120 hours at school and 150 hours of internship. She wants to do this besides her work in the kitchen and the care for her daughter. The costs are € 1.700 one time. Who wants to help?
Edna wants to become a teacher for special education. This takes 4 years and she needs € 2,200 a year. I’m sure, together we can make it.
If you want to help, please contact us.