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Reaching the Youth of Israel’s Periphery

Reaching the Youth of Israel’s Periphery

August 26, 2011

Natural Sciences, Negev Development & Community Programs

The Forward — Over the past decade Israel’s high-tech industry has thrived, creating exciting opportunities for high school graduates.

But, with investment and employment heavily concentrated in the country’s center, the spoils have been unequally shared.

BGU is bringing quality science education to the children of the Negev at the Ilan Ramon Youth Physics Center

BGU is bringing quality science education to the children of the Negev at the Ilan Ramon Youth Physics Center

For youngsters in Israel’s so-called periphery, it is double jeopardy: Not only do they not enjoy the same employment options as their centrally located peers, they also aren’t receiving the required high-tech education.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is mentioned as being part of a growing determination to change this reality. A 4-acre $40 million science park is slated to open in 2012 in Beer-Sheva on the BGU campus.

It’s the initiative of the Rashi Foundation, an Israeli non-profit committed to quality and opportunity in education for the youth of Israel’s periphery.

When opened the park will host 500 children daily from the Negev region for hands-on science education in state-of-the-art facilities.

The article also mentions how a high school student from the Ilan Ramon Youth Physics Center at BGU recently won first place at the “First Step to Nobel Prize in Physics” international competition held in Poland.

Read more on The Forward website >>