Located on the southernmost tip of Israel and bordering Egypt and Jordan, the Eilat /Eilot region is of strategic importance
to the state of Israel, ensuring the security of Israel's southern borders and access to trade routes with the Far East.
The city of Eilat boasts 60,000 residents with 4,500 more people living in Eilot.
Defined primarily as a tourist destination most employment opportunities in Eilat are in the tourism industry, low-tech
industires and at the port. The regions remote location compared to the centre of the country presents many challenges to
the area’s residents. It has been challenging to provide essential educational services, health services and employment opportunities
that ensure the stability and prosperity of Eilat/Eilot.
UJA Federation's Goal in Eilat/Eilot:
- To invest in regional development, education and health services so the area is able to attract new residents to the region and strengthen the area’s resilience and socio-economic growth
Impact of UJA’s partnership with Eilat / Eilot:
Health Care (Yoseftal Hospital):
- $1 million investment leveraged against $5 million matching funds to build a new emergency room to better serve community needs
- Revamped and upgraded of entire hospital
- Recruitment of much needed human resources including doctors and nurses to the region through incentives
Innovation and Employment
- Recruitment of much needed human resources including doctors and nurses to the region through incentives
Education
- Positioning the Eilat campus of Ben Gurion University as a local hub for STEEM studies
- Created dormitories in a built-to-own model
- Development of scholarships to incentivize students to live, learn and settle in the region
STEEM Initiatives
- Improving the ratio of teachers to pupils
- Upgrading out-dated science facilities and curriculums
- Implementing a problem based learning (PBL) approach to STEM studies from 9th Grade and onwards
- Ensuring greater access to STEEM studies for pupils in elementary and Junior high
- Developing skills for pupils to work in a global environment including Robotics twinning between Toronto and Eilat/Eilot schools
STEEM Success Highlights
- 2,541 students are currently directly involved in STEEM Programs
- There are now two Joint STEEM programs with Elementary Schools in Eilat and Toronto
- 20% increase in students choosing advanced mathematics in Eilot
- 10% increase in grade 9-11 student’s grade point averages for Math and Science
- 30 high school students have trained to become science instructors in after-school science and technology programs, instructing 80 elementary school students
- Robotics programs have been set up in every elementary school in Eilat
- Over 100 full scholarships awarded for BA and BSC Programs at Ben Gurion University in Eilat
- Opening of a new science education program at Ben Gurion University, Eilat campus
