From crisis to renewal, education is key
In Israel’s sun-soaked Western Negev, just a few kilometres from the Gaza border, is a college you’ve probably never heard of, but definitely should have
Sapir College in Sha’ar HaNegev, near Sderot, isn’t just one of Israel’s largest public colleges, it’s a hub of creativity, resilience, and social change that’s quietly turning out some of Israel’s most interesting minds.
Sapir President, Professor Nir Kedar, says: “October 7 was a national tragedy
and our local reality. Many of ourstudents, alumni, staff and faculty were among the victims, the evacuees and the first respsonders. Among the hostages, Sapir’s Director of Mechina Programs, Lishay Lavi Miran, awaits the safe return of her partner, Omri Miran. Rooted in this region, we share its pain and its responsibility to rebuild.”
CAMPUS THAT MIRRORS ISRAEL’S DIVERSITY
Sapir students have a wide range of degree options, from Film & Television
– where Israel’s indie scene owes much to Sapir graduates – to Computer Science, Public Policy, Law, Cultural Studies, Marketing and Social Work. The School of Audio and Visual Arts is among Israel’s most respected, home to the internationally recognised Cinema South International Film Festival.
Hebrew, Arabic and Amharic echo across the grounds as Jewish, Bedouin, secular and religious students, together with students from Jewish communities all over the world, study together. By policy, there is no on-campus housing; instead, students live in Sderot, kibbutzim and small towns across the Western Negev, embedding themselves in the region’s community life.
EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR RENEWAL
“Our mission is to help lead renewal and to create opportunities that will
keep young people here, committed to building the future of the western
Negev,” says Professor Kedar.
And in fact, the Government, through the Tkuma Authority, has identified
technology and innovation as central to regional rehabilitation. Sapir’s new
Faculty of Technology is the embodiment of that vision, aiming to transform the Western Negev into a hub for innovation, a new type of ‘Silicon Wadi’. Kedar elaborates: “It will bring together academia, industry and community in one space. This is where resilience becomes growth.”
In addition, Sapir, a national leader in resilience studies, utilising its 20 years
of experience operating under rocket fire, is partnering with Tkuma to
establish the National & Regional Trauma and Resilience Research Center.
A COMMUNITY OF PURPOSE
Many students come to Sapir because they want to make a difference.
Students volunteer in shelters, launch grassroots initiatives, provide pro-bono
legal aid and build technologies to support communities under stress.
LIVING WITH RESILIENCE
Visitors often ask: Is it safe? Sapir answers with preparation and resolve.
Classrooms and public spaces are reinforced or have nearby shelters, and
security protocols are strictly observed. But what defines life here isn’t fear, it’s
solidarity. The Sapir community is tight-knit, supportive and determined
not to be scared away from the future they are building together.