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On the Road to Higher Education

To make higher education accessible to former addicts in Israel, Bar-Ilan University will support their rehabilitation by providing opportunities for those from medium-low socio-economic backgrounds to acquire education. This initiative aims to enhance their income potential, social networks, sense of belonging, self-respect, and competence. The project aspires to become a model for first-generation higher-education students, potentially influencing future generations. Studies have shown that parents' education level is a key predictor of children's educational attainment.

Project summary

Status:

new

Mentorship:

Yael Cherniak, Department of Jewish Philosophy

Impact Fund investment:

NIS 169,081

Details

The project is a pilot, designed to develop and grow into an ongoing and sustainable multi-participant program. During this first phase, the possibility of partnership and future funding from the Anti-Drug Authority will be examined.

The pilot includes two programs that will be run concurrently:

  • Program 1: an academic preparation for higher education
  • Program 2: a course of Jewish philosophy

The candidates for participation for Program 1 are five rehab community leaders that will benefit professionally and financially from a higher education. 10-15 former addicts from the community, vetted for suitability, will take part in Program 2.

Program 1 (academic preparation for higher education): Access to a university preparatory school for social sciences and
humanities that begins on November 3, 2024, accompanied by a multi-pronged support package:

  • Academic- a set of private lessons through the preparatory school / Dean of Students
  • Financial- financing of 2/3 of the tuition fee
  • Emotional- group therapy, in collaboration with the Department of Social Work

At the end of the preparatory program, the participants will be able to be admitted to the bachelor’s degree track of their
choice.

Program 2 (course of Jewish philosophy): A course of 15 seminars, workshops, and discussions throughout the school year, based on the model that I developed together with Prof. Ben Pazi and Dr. Bluman in the “Jewish Social Philosophy” program with released prisoners in rehabilitation.

The goals of the program are:

  • A soft and pleasant entry into the academic space and an accessible curriculum that presents higher education as a real and possible option.
  • A sense of belonging to the community and developing relationships to other students through meetings designed to overcome stigma.
  • Studying philosophies that teach participants to think and that provide a broad perspective for observing their own lives.