Our trip is titled, “The Refugee Voice: African Asylum-Seekers in Israel.”  More than 60,000 African asylum seekers reside in Israel today, most having arrived in the past ten years. The vast majority has come from Eritrea, Sudan and Ethiopia crossing the border on foot from Egypt. Their journey is hard and perilous and once in Israel many refugees face institutionalized discrimination that prohibits them from being able to work, receive health care, housing and education. By working with various community partner organizations in Israel that are aware of the refugee situation, we hope to expose students to the refugees’ struggle as well as provide them with an understanding of African development, immigration policy and human rights issues in Israel. 

We hope that this trip will serve as a jumping board for students to get further involved in the plight of refugees/asylums, immigration and migration policy, human rights issues and breaking down prejudices against the Middle East. The trip will also expose students to various organizations that they can continue to stay connected with after the trip. We hope that for some participants this translates into future partnerships or internships with their parent organizations in the US and abroad.  We also hope students will be able to stay connected to groups on campus and continue to advocate and bring awareness about the issues. 

The co-leaders are facilitating 8 pre-trip trainings that will cover group bonding activities,  historical and cultural context, social justice awareness, service-learning best practices and so much more!

Information on the Co-leaders & Participants:

Annelise Cohon is a second year graduate student in the International Training and Education Program (ITEP). She is interested in international development and global health. Annelise spent a year in Israel as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar studying Peace and Conflict studies at the University of Haifa and working at the oldest grassroots feminist center in Israel, Isha’L’Isha. While in Israel, Annelise examined human trafficking and disability issues. She is looking forward to returning to Israel and co-leading this trip with her fellow ITEPer Heidi.

Heidi Bloom is a second year graduate student in the International Training and Education Program (ITEP). She is on the international education development track with a special interest in peace education. Heidi lived in Israel for five months, working at the African Refugee Development Center developing a mentor program for asylum-seeking children. She has been looking forward to working with this community once again and raising an awareness of the issue.