5 St. Lukes
Haifa 3531305
Israel
- Democracy and community development
- Others
- Research
- Youth and education
CEGAS was established in 1991 in order to advance and encourage higher education and community involvement amongst the Palestinian Arab community in Israel as a means for breaking the cycle of poverty and ethnic segregation caused by the establishment , and to take part for raising the socioeconomic status of the community. CEGAS works with and provides educational guidance to Arab students in elementary, middle, high school and university level. In addition, the organization also collaborates with women’s committees on the issue of empowering Palestinian women in Israel inside old age homes with the goal of strengthening their community and children with disadvantages. Moreover, CEGAS also targets youth at risk of academic failure offering them possibilities and alternatives. In addition to the Haifa region, we also take part in activities and social activism in the Negev region in the south.
Objectives
• To improve Israeli Arabs socio-economic level and reduce poverty.
• To foster academic standards, cultural heritage and belonging.
• To promote academic achievement of students groups.
• To grant students and women the skills to gain knowledge and tools.
• Empowering Arabic women to take part in social, cultural, and educational activities.
Educational and Vocational Training:
Arab students in high schools have a low transition rate to higher education institutes resulting in diminished employment opportunities. This program aims to empower and support marginalized Arab youth in high schools through counseling and guidance (both educational and vocational), and become socially and academically developed members of the Arab society. This program also aims to increase the amount of Arab students seeking higher-education by providing them with the necessary information and assistance that the high schools cannot afford to provide.
This project works in cooperation with Arab schools through workshops, lectures, publications, website, educational fairs-festival, University summer camp and more in order to extend the accessibility to higher education. The workshops include subjects such as the Psychometric exam, learning disabilities, parents' guidance, completing university registration forms, university requirements, and assistance choosing a career path. The educational fairs, festivals and lectures familiarize students with various university related topics, university students and staff.
Sawa Project:
The Committee for Educational Guidance (CEGAS)'s Sawa Project encourages volunteerism and works towards creating a civic society with a main goal of empowering the Arab community of Haifa and its environments. It focuses on building an independent infrastructure amongst the Arab community by working in places such as schools, public gardens, homes, and educational centers. The volunteers who are active with Sawa are from different ages and groups; each is active in the Haifa region in a different way. Moreover, a part of the activists volunteer in the neighboring city of Tamra. Sawa has been present for the past two years and CEGAS has managed to expand its activities with an active steering committee, bigger exposure, a large database of volunteers and interest groups. This project is unique in the sense that it boosts the value of volunteerism within society with the sole purpose of creating a better one.
By engaging in activities, creating dialogue and exchange networks.
To work on a larger and global scale, with youth from other nearby countries.