BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2025

42

BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV

STUDENT DIVERSITY 2024-25

138 Ethiopian origin 0.7% 585 Bedouins 3% 1,558 Arabs from the north 8% 37 Ultra-Orthodox* 0.2%

COMMUNITY ACTION DEPARTMENT

The Community Action Department has been fostering the University’s connection to the Negev community for over 50 years. Its programs aim to reduce social disparities while instilling values of equality and mutual responsibility, as reflected in its motto: Society is Stronger With You . The Department not only provides ongoing community support thanks to 300 actively involved students but also focuses on making higher education accessible to underrepresented populations. Each year, 800 children and adults visit the campus through a range of initiatives, including: The Kidma program, which offers basic adult education taught by students from the Keren Moshe Leadership Program, supported by the Halpérin family of Switzerland. The curriculum covers Hebrew, English, and computer skills. Over 150 passionate students are enrolled this year, including new immigrants, Bedouins, and individuals with learning disabilities. The Bishvil Ha’Daat program, aimed at adults with special needs (autism and intellectual disabilities), marked its 10th anniversary last year with two new courses, in life sciences and psychology. Sixty participants enjoy benefits such

as increased self-confidence and social integration. The People’s University , integrated into BGU last year, exposed 200 disadvantaged adults referred by social services to various fields of knowledge – psychology, business, and medicine – taught by BGU undergraduates. The Justice with You program supports marginalized women, providing knowledge about their legal rights through lectures by volunteer lawyers and a peer support group led by student mentors. We have expanded the Speaking Hebrew at BGU program, which helps Bedouin women learn practical Hebrew, with two classes in Kuseife, a Bedouin town. This year’s Community Theater project, One Saturday , focused on the trauma of October 7. Students and residents worked together to translate life-stories into performances with an accompanying photography exhibition. In the wake of the Iron Swords War, the Department received a major donation for scholarships, which enabled significant and meaningful student activity in support of the Negev’s vulnerable populations – offering solidarity and comfort to those in need during this challenging time.

* Graduates of the ultra Orthodox school system