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| The
Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews (IAEJ)directed and run by Ethiopians, is a unique advocacy organization and formidable voice for, and defender of, the Ethiopian community in Israel. It is the single most powerful advocate to major Israeli leaders in the municipal & national government to advance successful integration. Our work to break down barriers for and improve the quality of life of Ethiopians reverberates throughout all strata of Israeli society and creates a more just society. Successes The IAEJ has had many accomplishments since its inception in 1993. Here is a sample from the last few years until the present: 1. Increased employment of Ethiopian academics. In 2005, IAEJ was the first to bring attention to the fact that Ethiopians with academic degrees were the least employed at all levels in the government and private sectors. The IAEJ joined forces with MK Michael Eitan and reactivated, redefined and enforced a prior “equal opportunity” law for employment preference to women and people with special needs, to focus mainly on Ethiopian academics. Today over 700 Ethiopian academics are employed, an increase from the previous 504. A third of these academics hold leading positions and earn salaries that match their superior qualifications. In 2008, twenty high level positions in key government offices were filled by Ethiopian academics. Hard advocacy work has yielded real results: policy change, impact on government committees, agendas, decisions and subsequent programs and services to both the Ethiopian and general population. Everyone benefits. 2. A Major Overhaul in Israel Police Policy for Ethiopian Youth at Risk
In 2008, the IAEJ published a powerful and difficult report on the weaknesses in the police system vis a vis Ethiopian youth and crime. The research was based in part on statistics and data from the Israel Police. As a result, IAEJ initiated key meetings with Avi Dichter, previous Minister of National Security, and his Deputy, Danny Hadad, in conjunction with the Director of Israel Police’s training unit. IAEJ and the Israel Police co-created a pilot project in Bet Shemesh with excellent feedback from the local youth and officers alike. As a result, there is a now a policy in which all community police officers who have any association with Ethiopian youth are trained with special skills to deal with Ethiopians specifically, and all immigrants in general. Furthermore, IAEJ has been invited as partners in making policy recommendations in the special program, “City without Violence” in Netanya, Rehovot, and Rishon L’Zion. IAEJ is the foremost address for material in all Israeli Police officer-training courses, workshops, lectures and presentations. This has impacted the whole relationship officers have with Ethiopian youth. In addition, within IAEJ’s “Charisma” program, Ethiopian parents in Ramle, in cooperation with the Israel Police, have trained neighborhood parent patrols to lower crime and strengthen their children. 3. Educational Advocacy Fullbright Scholarship Program: In 2008, IAEJ approached Neil Sherman, Director of the Fullbright Scholarship program of the US State Department, to consider granting Ethiopian Israeli graduate students a free, all-expenses paid scholarship for a Masters or Doctoral degree at a leading American university. After numerous meetings, including one with the American Ambassador to Israel, a six-month preparatory program has been implemented for 20 talented students to be completed in March 2009. The top two students from this elite group will be awarded the Fullbright Scholarship with the commitment to return to Israel for employment in his/her field of expertise. Another impressive example of how advocacy benefits the Ethiopian community simultaneously in education and employment. Furthermore, the expected publicity surrounding such a prestigious award will generate a very positive image of Ethiopians in the wider Israeli society.In 2007, the IAEJ met with the Minister of Education and targeted four major areas for policy change. Special Education Students: IAEJ presented a research report and recommendations to Judge Dornor of the Special Dorner Commission on Education. Our report was subsequently incorporated into the Ministry of Education and can be found on its website. As a result, there is a substantially lower number of Ethiopian children unjustly placed into the special education track. Ethiopian Teachers: In the last year and half, since IAEJ initiated its meetings with the Ministry, the number of Ethiopian teachers hired by the Ministry of Education has almost doubled, increasing from 60 to 110. Transfer of Funds: Many Ethiopian students are unable to purchase academic books and supplies until very late in the school year due to the slow transfer of funds granted to new immigrants. The IAEJ discovered that the delays were largely due to poor communication between the Ministries of Absorption and Education. IAEJ is acting as a bridge between Hanoch Sapir, the Deputy to the Minister of Absorption, and Udi Bahet at the Ministry of Education. There have already been signs of improvement, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Youth Movements: In 2008-2009, IAEJ contacted and encouraged “Bet Hanassi”, the President’s Residence, to promote the issue of Ethiopian absorption. It now co-sponsors with the IAEJ many vital programs to mainstream Ethiopians and their culture into the broader community. In the last year, the President’s Residence has invited directors of every Israeli youth movement, and representatives from the Ministry of Education, to numerous meetings. Together, they developed strategies on methods to increase the membership of Ethiopian youths in the youth movements. 4. Educating via the Media IAEJ has generated directly and via other journalists, over 100 media items on Ethiopian absorption. IAEJ has kept the Ethiopian issue alive in the media. In the process critical themes in the public, social and civic sectors relevant to the entire Israeli community have been addressed. IAEJ is the most important, and in some cases, the only address for current and comprehensive information regarding the Ethiopian community in Israel. For the last four years, the IAEJ has co-sponsored, with the Jerusalem Cinemateque, an Ethiopian evening during the Jewish Film Festival celebrating Ethiopian produced films depicting the Ethiopian Israeli experience. This year, President Shimon Peres was the guest of honor. This prompted a lot of buzz in the media and spread Ethiopian Israeli culture into the mainstream community. 5. Social/Community Issue The Sigged Festival: IAEJ’s advocacy work succeeded in making the Ethiopian Sigged Festival a legal national holiday for all of Israel’s citizens in 2008. IAEJ, with the support of MK Uri Uriel, who sponsored the law in the Knesset, lobbied over 40 MK’s to back this law. It began in 2006 at the grassroots student level when IAEJ initiated a dialogue with Ethiopian high school students at the Promenade in Jerusalem. IAEJ drafted and then got thousands to sign a petition calling for the holiday to be nationalized, then enlisted the two Chief Rabbis of Israel to endorse the idea, and then IAEJ persisted all the way to the Knesset. For the first time, in 2008, the Ministry of Education distributed nationally, educational material on the Sigged Festival to all high schools. Next year, IAEJ will co-sponsor a special event with the President’s Residence. Gradually, society is learning about and experiencing many sides of the Ethiopian community and its culture. The Five-Year Plan
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