Over the past three months, the Yafit Absorption Center has undergone a change, absorbing 41 young immigrants from Ethiopia. The multilingual music of Spanish and Russian in its corridors enriched by the soft sounds of Amharic.

The young people have started a 9 month study program for self advancement called KEDMA. The Program offers the opportunity to learn and develop personal skills needed to access professional and academic training.

Contrary to custom whereby one lives within ones core family and in close proximity to the more extended family, these young people bravely chose to take a courageous step towards independence, joining the program they left the warm embrace of their families who remain in various absorption centers in Israel.

Most of these young people are uneducated; many are illiterate even in Amharic. Coming from small villages in Ethiopia, they had spent their life farming or raising sheep and cattle. Now, for the first time in their lives, they seat in a classroom. Step by small shy steps, they learn to speak, write and read Hebrew.

The Program includes intensive ulpan classes tailored specifically to the needs of Ethiopian new immigrants, math and computer lessons as well as a rich range of cultural activities and afternoon classes in Judaism.

Their love of life and their inborn sense of rhythm expressed in every activity they partake, from folk-dancing classes to evenings of pop music.

An Amharic-speaking counselor, assigned specifically to this group, is there to lend a sympathetic ear and mediate interaction with other staff people in the Absorption Center.

Iyar 5762 - May 2002