Narrowing the gaps that divide Israel and ensuring equal access to education, healthcare, housing and employment for all Israelis.

Background

During the past decade, Israel's standard of living has soared to levels enjoyed by many Western European nations. At the same time, the gap between the rich and poor has become the widest of any industrialized nation. Many people have been left behind and new problems (homelessness, alarming school dropout rates, and unemployment rates of up to 25% in some regions) have begun to plague Israeli society.

The New Israel Fund is committed to ensuring that all Israelis have equal access to education, healthcare, housing and employment. More than an issue of income and education, the growing gap between rich and poor divides Israelis by status and political power. Therefore, the New Israel Fund invests in efforts not only to narrow the gaps, but also to foster citizen action so that disadvantaged communities can help themselves.

NIF is working to:

• Address poverty, unemployment and the decaying infrastructure in poor communities;
• Raise public awareness of the problems, and solutions, to the social and economic gaps;
• Develop leadership skills among women and minorities;
• Ensure full implementation of the Free Compulsory Early Childhood Education Law, which guarantees early childhood education beginning at age 3; and
• Enhance the capacity of organisations to influence government resource allocation.

Recent Accomplishments

• Low income neighbourhood support
Fighting poverty in Israeli society, this project trains local activists in organising their communities for change. Special attention is given to single parents, the unemployed and those living in the geographic periphery of the country.

• Yedid
Meaning ‘Together’, Yedid is The Association for Community Empowerment. Its work includes community activism for new immigrants, Mizrahim and other disadvantaged populations in low income neighbourhoods, providing information, educational programs, advocacy and leadership development.

• Ethiopian immigrant / empowerment
Fostering Ethiopian leadership, New Israel Fund work in this field bolsters efforts to improve educational opportunities and build strong community activism, with a special focus on women and students.