BGU | Fundraising Handbook

to the organization throughout the academic year. This gives participants the opportunity to have an impact and make a difference in the lives of others while increasing their level of social awareness and enabling them to learn about the organization, the people who receive help, and themselves. The program exposes students to different populations and gives them an opportunity to interact with individuals they might otherwise not have contact with, such as people with disabilities, Holocaust survivors, or refugees. Some students work as counselors for individuals from underrepresented or vulnerable groups, including prisoners, women from disadvantaged backgrounds, and people with disabilities. Through these efforts, they help introduce these populations to academia, empower them with knowledge, and enhance their self-confidence. Windows onto Campus Dreams Program This innovative program brings prisoners to the University weekly to participate in classes taught by BGU students in various disciplines including medicine, robotics, and philosophy. The program broadens the horizons of prisoners, many of whom have not been exposed to the world of higher education and allows them to look beyond their current circumstances and begin developing higher aspirations. The world of academia can often seem strange and uncomfortable for the prisoners, a place in which they seemingly do not belong. Yet academia is also often the admittance ticket to meaningful participation in society. Through the program, the prisoners learn that they can

think and dream in ways that they have not allowed themselves to do until now. Many of the participating prisoners said the project made them believe that they were capable of studying for an academic degree and they expressed a genuine interest in academic study for themselves and their families. Over the years, dozens of prisoners have participated in the program which the Israel Prison Service has deemed a great success. The horizons of BGU students have also been expanded, as the students forge a connection with the prisoners whose backgrounds often differ greatly from theirs. In addition to the programs described above, the Community Action Department runs designated programs for adults with special needs, immigrants, people living in poverty and in remote villages, as well as two community theater programs, all aimed at enriching members of the Negev community, exposing them to higher education and BGU in particular, and increasing access to education and higher education in particular. Jusidman Science Center for Youth Programs The Jusidman Center is home to outstanding programs that open the door to STEM subjects to Negev youth and enable them to explore these subjects, challenging them and enriching them, while exposing them to the world of higher education. The center is a lively hub of activity, a place full of energy and excitement, as youth experience the wonders of science, the joy of discovery, and the pride of academic achievement. One of the Jusidman Center’s newest programs is described below.

STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT

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COMMUNITY UPLIFT AND SOCIAL ACTION