PO Box 3369
Beer Sheva
Israël
- Youth and education
HAGAR: Jewish-Arab Education for Equality’s bilingual coexistence school and community programming serve as a spring-board for social change in the relationship between Arabs and Jews for both children- who study and learn together- and parents- who seek to optimize their children’s educational opportunity and to create a peaceful future.
The Hagar Association was founded in 2006 by Jewish and Arab parents, teachers, and community organizers from Beer Sheva in order to create a community of coexistence based on equality for Arabs and Jews in the Israeli Negev. • The Hagar Institute (currently pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st grade) is dedicated to academic excellence for each student to reach his or her potential. Class enrollment is balanced between Jewish and Arab children. Two teachers (one Jewish and one Arab) are present in each classroom guaranteeing equal status of both Hebrew and Arabic. Religious diversity is taught using holidays for both celebrations and educational moments. By design, classes are small, the school day is extended, and a nutritional lunch is served. • Our community outreach program offers activities to members of the wider Beer Sheva community. These activities include: spoken Arabic classes, joint Arab-Jewish holiday celebrations, bilingual shows, and family workshops.