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Volunteers Needed to Teach English to Ethiopian Israelis

 

Turning Isolation Into Innovative Connection - KESHER!

Ethiopian Israeli children, teens and young adults are connecting with English speakers in an innovative program that is delivering friendship alongside informal education. The program is called Online English School @ Home. The program was designed to help forge English language skills and is now delivering an extra bonus: decreased loneliness friendships emerging online.

Friends by Nature (FBN)’s new endeavour, “Online English School @ Home” (English@Home)" is an extension of a program FBN has been running for over a decade called “Homework @Home”. To date, 1,200 students took part in the program, improved their grades and learning skills. FBN is an Israeli NGO that was established in 2005. The organization aims to advance multiculturalism, strengthen youth at-risk and ensure the success of immigrant communities in Israel.

Volunteers meet once or twice a week for 30-40 minutes. But this program is not like a formal classroom. The participants have said it’s more like having an online friend whose world is different from your own. Volunteers gain international teaching experience. Volunteers can be creative in their conversations in order to engage their students. Volunteers can learn about the Ethiopian community in Israel from the perspective of an Israeli Ethiopian student. Students are encouraged to share their culture and history while learning English. Since the program launched in April, some 120 participants have been organizing zoom conversations at mutually convenient times. In light of the success of English@Home during lockdowns in Israel, the program will grow to include new communities in Israel’s periphery. For Israelis, Hebrew alone is not enough. Israeli students need English language literacy for professional and educational opportunities.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF VOLUNTEERS?

We are asking for a commitment for the school year until mid-June. Some volunteers have teaching/tutoring experience and may engage in higher-level instruction, whereas others create confidence by having fun informal chats. Volunteers are required to speak some level of Hebrew. Volunteers who have found the isolation of Covid challenging now have widened their world. The Covid pandemic has increased loneliness. This program gives volunteers an opportunity to meet someone they would not otherwise have met. We are also looking for teen volunteers to connect as peers. Volunteers are shaping lives, one conversation at a time. We’d love to have you on board!

To volunteer, please fill out this application form.

For more details contact: fbn.english.school@gmail.com

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784