SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LEARNING CENTERS

Learning to swim

Rationale:
After School Learning Centers: To bridge the social and educational gaps between disadvantaged immigrant elementary school aged children and their Israeli peers. These immigrant children, predominantly from Ethiopia and the Caucasus, have great cultural differences and have not been exposed to educational opportunities and stimuli.
ESRA's Centers provide supplementary education, computer studies and enrichment activities during after school hours. The Centers ensure that these children are engaged in constructive, supervised activities rather than aimlessly roam the streets.

Learning to read

Operation:
ESRA works in co-operation with local municipalities and other government bodies in establishing and operating these Centers. ESRA provides teachers' salaries, and professional volunteers from ESRA initiate and supervise the projects.

The Program:
Academic studies include: help in homework, Hebrew, English and Mathematics, Computer Studies and Enrichment Activities in Arts, Sciences and Sport. A light lunch is provided in order to sustain the children through the afternoon's activities, as the Centers usually start immediately after the morning school ends.

No. of participants:
A total of 6,000 immigrant children have participated in ESRA's Learning Centers.

Locations:
Netanya - Shachal Elementary School: Opened in October 2005 for 95 Ethiopian children who attend 3 times weekly .

Netanya - Ort-Guttmann School : Opened in October 2003 for 55 Ethiopian and FSU children who attend twice weekly in the Kiryat Nordau neighborhood of Netanya.

Centers ESRA operated 1991 - 2000: Gabrielli School Tel Aviv; Kiryat Ekron; Or Akiva: - Etzion, Tamari Rothschild and Hannah Senesh Schools; caravan sites of Hatzrot Yasaf, Hatzrot Hefer, Hulda, Beerotayim, Hatzrot Koach; Rambam and Yavne Schools, Netanya.

Centers ESRA operated 2000 - 2004: Hadera - Givat Olga and Pe'er Centres; Raanana - Kiryat Sharett; 4 centres in Yavne; Netanya - Shazar & Kiryat RabinSchools.