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Telfed’s inaugural SASI students are thriving
The SASI (South Africans Studying in Israel) Academic Programme is an exciting new initiative run by Telfed. This life changing experience allows South African students to complete a university degree in Israel in English, with Telfed and the universities providing financial and social support that will enable students to flourish both in their studies and in their life outside of the classroom. See stunning picture of the inaugural students and SASI staffers…
ANT KATZ
Telfed (the SA Zionist Federation Israel) was delighted to welcome the first batch of SASI participants to the holy land this year.
The SASI (South Africans Studying in Israel) Academic Programme is an exciting new initiative run by Telfed and endorsed by The Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation. It offers a structured framework, guidance and significant (needs based) financial/social support to assist South African students to complete an internationally recognised university degree in Israel in English.
This replicates a similar project run by Telfed in the 1970s and 80s, (in conjunction with the Israeli Ministry of Absorption) “which was highly subscribed to for a number of years,” according to the Telfed website.
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BACK ROW: Mel Cohen (SASI committee member), Frankie Friedman, Zachery Levin (above), Neil Mayers, Sidney Shapiro (SASI committee member), Dave Bloom -SASI Chairman. FRONT ROW: Merav Fisher – Telfed, Georgia Ungar, Savanah Muller, Steve Handler (SASI committee member), Ariyeh Taitz, Shlomit Maman and Stephanie Miller, Director of Recruitment and Admissions at the IDC Herzliya.
For the current (2016-2017) academic year, students are registered at the IDC (Interdisciplinary Centre, Herzliya). IDC is a large private university and, while issuing internationally recognised degrees, in Israel only state institutions are allowed to use the word ‘university’ in their name. To all intents and purposes, however, IDC is a university.
Telfed is in the process of concluding affiliation and collaboration agreements with a number of other prestigious Israeli universities, to widen the options and opportunities available to the students, they say.
The new SASI programme covers education and accommodation bursaries, offers the students access to an advisor at Telfed, a student ‘madrich’ and comprehensive support services from Telfed’s staff (including an Aliyah and Klita Counsellor, Employment Advisor and Social Worker).
Telfed has over six decades of experience in immigrant absorption and counselling. The organisation caters to hundreds of students each year through the PRAS Student Mentoring Programme and other scholarship schemes.
All seven students studying at the IDC Herzliya have settled in smoothly, are enjoying their studies and, says Telfed’s SASI Committee Chairman, Dave Bloom: “We look forward to supporting them throughout their degree and to seeing them flourish in Israel.”
Students who opt for the new SASI bursary scheme are able to study in English and it is not compulsory for them to make Aliyah.