Improving the Quality of Education in Early Childhood for Children in the Asylum-Seekers’ Community

Vision

Mesila’s main goal is to improve the quality of life of children of asylum seekers. We operate with the understanding that these children are living in a complex environment, therefore our assistance and treatment aim to orbit all the areas of their lives. Mesila is the largest center assisting approximately 10,000 asylum seekers directly and approximately 20,000 in indirect ways, such as informational videos, social networks, far-reaching community activities, etc.

Activity

Mesila takes a “360-degree approach” to address all necessary aspects of working with caregivers, educators, parents, children, government and municipality. Ultimately, all of the Unit’s work is to improve children’s’ quality of life now and in the future.
Work with the caregivers and educators
• Courses, training, and workshops on various subjects for the caregivers: safety, first aid, activities for children, etc.
• Individual weekly pedagogical guidance within the “babysitters”
• Group and individual guidance to educators in the afterschool settings.

Work with children:
• Pedagogical trainers work with the children in the “babysitters” to demonstrate optimal caregiving practices.
• Early identification of children at-risk and children with special needs in the settings.

Work with parents:
• Provide information, workshops and lectures to educate parents on the importance of their involvement in their child’s development.
• Parental groups to provide parental tools and guidance.
• Promote registration for municipal kindergartens to children from age 3.

Policy:
• Mesila advances the transition from “babysitters” to governmental-municipal daycare centers.
• Promotes registration for municipal kindergartens so that children from age 3 smoothly transition from the daycares and “babysitters” to proper municipal educational settings.

Prior to the guidance program, my place did not look like a kindergarten. The guide helped me change the space into a beautiful creative and non-stressful place. It suddenly looks like a kindergarten...before guidance, I only knew how to separate children who were fighting and let them eat, I did not know how to communicate with the children and parents and what is the importance of play and daily routine for them

- A guided babysitter owner in south Tel-Aviv

Ayelet Dovrat

Ayelet Dovrat has a BA in social work, and is a certified supervisor for social work students in training. Since 2013 she works as the director of the early childhood unit at Mesila. Her work includes:
• Managing a community project for pedagogical guidance in pirate day cares and afterschool settings, working with and training the pedagogical guides. Developing programs for caregivers, educators and parents in the asylum seekers community.
• Working with and guiding women who operate pirate day cares and educators in the afterschool settings. Developing early childhood programs.
• Systemic work vis-à-vis government ministries and municipal departments related to the foreign community’s day cares and early childhood education.
Prior to her work at Mesila, Ayelet has been an instructor at “Knafayim Preparatory Program” for young people with disabilities, helping them to develop independence. She has also been a guide at the “Individual Guidance for Youth” program, to support young people of Ethiopian origin in cooperation with the Elem Association.