Who we are
Run by asylum seekers, for asylum seekers.
Born from the experience of asylum seekers, built to serve every African student in Israel.
Mission
ASO seeks to correct misconceptions of Israeli society about African asylum seekers by promoting understanding and cooperation between Israeli citizens and African asylum seekers through education programs and exchanges.
Vision
A future in which African students in Israel are recognized as bridge-builders — strengthening ties between Israeli society and their home communities through mutual respect, shared knowledge, and lasting personal connection. We envision a society where cooperation between Israelis and the students they welcome replaces misconception with understanding, and where the relationships formed today become the foundation for stronger social and cultural ties between Israel and the African continent for generations to come.
The challenge
Nearly 30,000 African asylum seekers live in Israel.
Refugees and asylum seekers flee war, persecution, and violence in their home countries, seeking sanctuary and the right to be recognized as refugees under international law — a status that entitles them to legal protection and material assistance.
Today, nearly 30,000 African asylum seekers live in Israel, facing daunting challenges: poverty, discrimination, and precarious legal status. Most hold a 2(a)5 conditional release visa, which permits them to remain in the country but offers no path to permanent status — deportation orders loom over many. Fewer than one percent attend college, and more than 95% lack formal legal status. This chronic insecurity makes stable employment nearly impossible to secure, often trapping people who have already endured so much in a cycle of poverty. Meanwhile, children fall behind in schools that are inadequately equipped to support them.
Our story
Built by the community, for the community.
In March 2017, African asylum seekers founded and registered the African Students Organization in Israel (ASO) as an Israeli NGO — built by the community, for the community.
Since then, ASO has grown into a multi-generational support network, initiating and managing educational and support projects for elementary and high school youth, post-secondary students, and adults seeking vocational training. Our work spans professional development, scholarships, and mentorship — including our newest initiative, the Teen Mentor Project (TMP).
TMP was created to address one of the most pressing gaps: children falling behind in schools unprepared to serve them. The program offers after-school learning support for African refugee youth, pairing academic challenge with positive mentorship to build confidence and open a path toward higher education. So far, TMP has produced 12 graduates, with 17 students currently pursuing bachelor's degrees, 5 applicants in the university application process, and 10 youth actively working with mentors.
ASO's response has extended beyond education whenever our community needed it most. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we distributed emergency food and infant supplies and provided management tools to leaders across 22 African communities. Following October 7th, ASO mobilized volunteers to support organizations and farms across the country.
From a small group of founders in 2017 to a network reaching thousands today, ASO remains rooted in one belief: that education is the clearest path toward dignity, stability, and opportunity.
African Students Association in Israel is a registered nonprofit in the State of Israel, ID# 580641074.
Co-founders
Thirteen students, one decision.
In 2015, thirteen African asylum-seeking students met to discuss our key needs: tuition scholarships, student visas, and internships following graduation — and community outreach to grow our numbers in higher education. In March 2017, we founded and registered ASO as an NGO in Israel.
Alhaji Alpha Fofana
Ivory Coast
Abou Bakr Sako
Ivory Coast
Dawit Demoz
Eritrea
Mutasim Ali
Darfur, Sudan
Taj Haroun
Darfur, Sudan
Barik Sale
Darfur, Sudan
Gabriel Thom
South Sudan
Aron Weldemhiret
Eritrea
Yikealo Beyene
Eritrea
Tesfu Bariagab
Eritrea
Adam Bashar
Darfur, Sudan
Usumain Barka
Darfur, Sudan
Joey Low
Our education and empowerment backer, mentor, and booster — in short, our "angel".
In 2009, Joey Low — an American entrepreneur and philanthropist — encountered the Sudan-Darfur community in South Tel Aviv. Joey had already established the NGO "Israel at Heart" to support Ethiopian-Israeli students at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, and through that work, he came to know the stories of asylum seekers building new lives in Israel.
Their journeys resonated deeply with Joey's own family history — his mother had spent years as a refugee in Europe, seeking asylum in country after country, before finally immigrating to the United States, where Joey was born.
Moved by this connection, Joey pledged to provide scholarships for qualified asylum seekers to pursue higher education. He pioneered the African Refugee Scholarship Program, opening doors for students from Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan-Darfur to complete degree programs at IDC. Today, the program supports African asylum seekers studying at institutions across Israel.
Joey continues to champion our community.
Our reach
Nine years of accumulated experience.
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Years of higher education experience
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Students supported since 2017
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BA and MA graduates
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Teens in the mentor project
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Countries of origin
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Israeli colleges & universities
Fourteen countries
Where our community comes from.
Our members are men and women, singles and parents, aged 18 and older — arriving from across the African continent and building their futures in Israel.
- Cameroon
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan – Darfur
Leadership
The people who run ASO.
Staff members
- Barik SaleChief Executive Officer
- Fatoumata SakoChief Financial Officer
- Precious UdohCommunications Manager
- Goanar AbrahamIT Professional
- Manasik AdamStudent Management Officer
- Yosan AbrahamStudent Management Coordinator
- Yoal AndrewStudent Management Officer
Board members
- Naka PitiaBoard Chair
- Mohand Abdel MoneimBoard Vice Chair
- Saleh AdamBoard Secretary
- Mohamed DiabateBoard Member
- Taban JohnsonBoard Member
Audit committee
- Teame HabteabHead of Audit Committee
- Ablel WedegebrelAudit Committee
- Wuoh GarkuthAudit Committee