Education Programs
ARDC's educational program is the core of our activity. The program aims to strengthen the capacity and autonomy of African asylum seekers in Israel through education, training, professional guidance and action toward a more dignified life. Additionally, we operate an extensive tutoring program, which serves as a supplementary component of each of our branches.
Pre -Academic Studies
Due to instability and violence in their countries of origin, many of Israel’s asylum-seekers arrive without documentation of their secondary education, or with little formal education. Eritrea intentionally doesn’t print educational documents as a way to discourage people from leaving. Many other refugees lost their documentation on the long journey to Israel.
After facing displacement from their home, ARDC is dedicated to providing a smooth transition back into the classroom for refugees. Pre-Academic studies are essential to the success of refugees in Israel in their search for jobs, stability, and comfort. At the ARDC, we operate programs that prepare asylum seekers for higher education in Israel or anywhere in the world, such as preparation for the GED - an internationally accepted equivalent to a high school diploma, preparation for the Israeli SAT test, courses for English proficiency tests (such as TOEFL or IELTS), and more.
Academic Studies
According to the United Nations’ High Commission on Refugees, just one percent of displaced persons have access to higher education opportunities. The ARDC partners with more than twenty Israeli educational institutions to increase educational options for asylum-seekers that are devoted to their personal, professional and educational development. In addition, the ARDC assists with the application process for both universities and the scholarships that make college more feasible for asylum-seekers in Israel or online.
Students that have worked with the ARDC are studying a variety of subjects in both English and Hebrew, including African Studies, Agriculture, and Business Administration. Many refugees are interested in attending the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Sapir College, and certified online universities such as the Israeli Open University and the International University of the people.
To date, the ARDC has more than 20 partnerships with Israeli and international institutions, in order to facilitate and increase learning and scholarship opportunities.
Tutoring Program
The ARDC provides tailored assistance in order to enable asylum seekers to apply to institutes of higher education, in Israel or online. To date, the ARDC has more than 20 partnerships with Israeli and international institutions, in order to facilitate and increase learning and scholarship opportunities.
Our clients are able to enjoy tutoring services provided by volunteers at no cost––adding an additional layer to each of our branches of education. Locals, internationals, and asylum-seekers alike volunteer their time to give one-on-one lessons to asylum-seekers interested in learning a language that will help them adjust to life in Israel.
Topics include language classes, preparation for pre-academic tests, assistance with university materials, and even DJing and graphic design classes. It is a wonderful way for members of the asylum-seeking community to help one another, and in the process, for others to build friendships and personal acquaintances with community members.
Economic Empowerment
Vocational Training
The ARDC partners with certified institutions in various fields of studies in order to create unique learning opportunities for asylum-seekers that will ensure their employment and will enable them to lead a dignified life. Some of our latest courses include manicure-pedicure training for women, coding classes and a car repair course. For more information, click here.
ReStart Program
Goals
The demand for talented Coders both in Israel and internationally is growing. Providing refugees and asylum-seekers with in-demand career skills will not only ensure that they are eligible for skilled and in-demand jobs but it will also fulfill the growing needs of the job market. It’s a win-win situation.
Our goal is not only to educate our students but to also guide them towards employment and integration in the developer community. Training refugees in Computer Programming significantly increases their chances of achieving sustainable employment opportunities, both in Israel and abroad.
Milestones
Phase 1: Precourse Assessment
A six-week long pre-course that teaches relevant coding skills and identifies high-potential candidates with the relevant skill-sets, language skills, motivation, and dedication to succeed. These students will then apply to a highly reputable bootcamp and complete the screening process.
Phase 2: Bootcamp
An intensive 3-5 months bootcamp, which will provide refugees and asylum-seekers with the most in-demand knowledge and technical skills that employers look for when hiring for entry level Web Developer roles. Each student will also look to complete an internship in a company and be provided with a personal mentor.
Phase 3: Job Placement
The students will participate in professional development workshops, and be matched with employment opportunities in order to guide them towards employment and integration into the workforce.
Success Stories
Two of the Coding Programs previous participants were hired at Minute.com. One as a Video Editor and the other as a Programmer. Previous participants of The ARDC’s Coding Courses are themselves now teachers of front-end development for asylum- seekers and refugees, and providing professional services, such as building websites.
The ARDC has supported approximately 32 graduates of coding courses or preparatory courses. There are a number of asylum seekers learning coding skills in other schools on their own who we are not directly supporting, but are in touch with.
As a result of these efforts, the desire to learn coding within the community, is substantially increasing. Some of the graduates of these courses are now teaching coding to community members, in their own groups as well.
To date, there are 5 graduates of coding bootcamps, which are geared towards employment opportunities (DI, Le Wagon, Elevation). There is one other person currently completing a bootcamp at Appleseeds.
