Why Israel? Why PACT

Answeing the obvious question (as I'm between flights in Newark) - why israel and why PACT? PACT was launched in 1998 in an effort to address the growing educational crisis within the ethiopian-israeli community by reducing the academic and social gaps between ethiopian-israeli children and their veteran israeli peers.

Holisitcally, pact (parents and children together) provides a comprehensive educational and community services for eth-israeli preschoolers, while at the same time offering targeted training and support to their parents, the community and local educators and service providers. These efforts are made possible by collaborations between jdc, north american jewish federations, local israeli municipalities, and the ethiopian-israeli community. The outcomes have been most impressive with significant improvement seen in most areas of achievement and gaps reduced between populations.

In 2004-05 over 8700 ethiopian-israeli children aged birth to 9 were impacted by pact along with over 3800 parents in specialized programs designed for them.

The East Baltimore Redevelopment Project, spearheaded by the east baltimore development inc (www.ebdi.org) is seeking to stabilize and revitalize east baltimore by transforming a once vibrant neighborhood into a healthier thriving community again for families and children. This redevelopment is working in conjunction with the massive 88 acre, $1.8 billion re-development efforts of that neighborhood.


Having seen the great success of pact in numerous communities in israel, ebdi wishes to learn from the successes and shortcomings of pact and how it can be replicated.

More to come.

Adam