Matanel Scholarships: Experiencing Science

Vision

I believe that the academic summer programs and camps run by universities and are a key way for talented Ethiopian-Israeli children to improve their motivation and performance in mathematics, English and science, and therefore increase their chances of being accepted to academic study.

Activity

The program will identify talented Ethiopian-Israeli youth between the ages of 10 – 18 years, that are interested in enriching pursuing prestigious careers, such as astrophysics, medicine, genetic engineering, chemistry, psychology and law. In 2012, the program will provide scholarships for 25 students to spend two weeks at the Dov Lautman Unit for Science Oriented Youth at Tel Aviv University, and 75 students to participate in municipal academic programs held across Israel.

Without education is like food without flavor

- Ethiopian Jewish proverb

David Maharat

David Maharat, Director of the Steering Center for Ethiopian Immigrants in the Education System, was born in 1968, and immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia in 1984. He holds a BA in Education, Sociology and Anthropology (Bar Ilan University), and is completing an MA in Education Policy (Hebrew University.) He served as advisor on Ethiopian-Israeli issues to the Minister of Education, and has lectured and facilitated numerous working-groups on this issue. He is a member of the national commission to monitor Hebrew instruction offered to new immigrants, and is active at the Center for Early Childhood in Kiryat Gat. David lives in Kiryat Gat, with is wife and five children.