IN BRIEF ...
Computer Camp in Amharic
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In their work on educational programs for the Ethiopian community, Compedia professionals discovered a prevalent fear of animals. To help children overcome these fears, the summer camp incorporated workshops with animals and visits to animal petting parks.
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Computer Camp? Not a likely proposition for many Israeli children and almost surreal for new immigrants from Ethiopia, many of whom had never been to school before arriving in Israel. Compedia, a leading Israeli software company made that unlikely proposition into a reality for over 2,500 new immigrant children in Absorption Centers this past summer.
Compedia, which has been working hand-in-hand with the Jewish Agency developing reading programs in Amharic and in Hebrew for Amharic speakers, took their magnanimity one step further by providing a comprehensive educational program for a three-week summer camp. Silvina Sosna, Director of Cultural and Social Activities in the Immigration and Absorption Department's Absorption Division, coordinated the camp - providing counselors, a venue and sports activities. She spoke of Compedia in glowing terms.
“We are always looking for creative, fun and educational activities to do with the immigrant children during the summer - something that will put the summer months to use to give them a fore in September when they return to school. This program fit like a glove. Compedia supplied us with all the materials and workbooks, and for those Absorption Center's with too few computers, Compedia had two mobile units traveling the country." The school year has begun with a head start for 2,500 children thanks to Compedia and the Jewish Agency.
Promoting Israel and Peace with a Pita
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One of the newspaper articles covering the Australian Union of Jewish Student's attempt, together with the Greek students, to create the largest pita in the world.
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How many Australians does it take to put a pita in the oven? Anyone from the Australian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) at the University of Melbourne can proudly give you the answer. Sixteen. That is, of course, if you are talking about the largest pita in the world. Jewish Agency emissary Zvi Rafinsky adds that to make the pita, you need "ten kilograms of flour, 200 grams of salt, 200 grams of yeast and six liters of water." Mix together with a lot of salty fun, and the cooperation of a local kosher bakery.
In a creative initiative, the AUJS joined the National Union of Greek Australian Students to bake a "pita for peace" in the spirit of the Olympic Games. The challenge of breaking the world record for the largest pita added a bit of spice to Israel Week activities which took place at campuses across Australia and New Zealand.
While waiting for the Guinness committee's judgement on the pita, a student admitted that they may be queried on the "height and whether it is fully edible, given that some of the pita burnt." For the AUJS students, "Record or not, it certainly got the most attention we’ve ever seen on campus for an AUJS event."