Tel Aviv University has expanded its “Universitah B'Am” program, a project that aides those facing socio-economic difficulties in accessing higher education. The program has doubled in size, and now includes dozens of students who are battling drug addiction.
Former addicts have been included in the program in collaboration with the city of Tel Aviv, which runs several drug rehabilitation centers throughout the city. The rehab centers provide addicts with medication and counseling, but have faced difficulty in helping addicts find work, due largely to the addicts' lack of higher education.
The university will transport students to and from campus and provide them with a meal. Courses are held once a week for three years, and are free aside from an initial payment of 150 shekels.
Other groups helped via the Universitah B'Am program are former prisoners, girls at risk, and a group of parents and children. Students in the program can learn business management, communications, medicine, law or psychology. The courses are taught by university students.
At the end of the program students get a diploma showing they have completed the material. The program was started by Adi Kol, a doctorate student who wished to make higher education accessible to those who face unusual difficulties in obtaining a diploma.