Tel-Hai Magazine 2023-2024

The Regional Knowledge Center East Galilee: Applying regional-specific data to enhance quality of life in the Eastern Galilee and beyond

Both these goals have proven crucial in understanding and addressing the region’s unique challenges. Creating a Quality-of-Life Index specific to the Eastern Galilee region The first major goal of the Regional Knowledge Center was to develop a Quality-of-Life Index tailored specifical ly to the Eastern Galilee. This was achieved through creating an index based on extensive literature review, fo cus groups and in-depth interviews with local leadership. The importance of this index lies in the complexity of the Eastern Galilee, which is comprised of 18 municipalities governing the 180,000 residents. These include Kiryat Shmona, Katzrin, Zefat, Rosh Pina, various Kibbutzim, Moshavim, Druze, Muslim, Christian and Bedouin villages, and all the com munities of the Galilee-Golan, reflecting the uniqueness and diversity of the social fabric in Israel. As we welcome this diversity and value its many advantages, it also presents a great challenge due to the region’s scat tered heterogenic populations and de centralized municipal structure. As Dr. Cohen explains, “Data collected about the larger northern district exists, but this

evant data. Since its establishment, the center has become an indispensable resource for data-driven decision-mak ing and policy formulation in the East ern Galilee. Dr. Ayala Cohen, Head of the Re gional Knowledge Center and Senior Lecturer at Tel-Hai’s Department of Social Work, emphasizes the center’s unique approach: “Our primary func tion is to collect and present data that reflects the realities of the Eastern Galilee region. This comprehensive data collection allows us to identify socio-demographic trends within the Eastern Galilee and conduct targeted research to delve deeper into specific issues. Driven by active public partici pation, this model ensures that our findings truly reflect the needs and experiences of our diverse communities and provides both a broad overview, and in-depth insights into our region’s chal lenges and opportunities.” From its inception, the center set out to accomplish two major goals: 1. To create a Quality-of-Life Index specific to the Eastern Galilee re gion. To promote data-driven deci sion-making and policy formula tion within the Eastern Galilee’s local authorities. 2.

Dr. Ayala Cohen Head of the Regional Knowledge Center Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Work

The Eastern Galilee Regional Knowl edge Center is a beacon of insight and innovation for the Upper and Eastern Galilee-Golan area, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the region. Established in 2022 through the collabo ration of the Eastern Galilee Cluster, Tel-Hai College, the Coast-to-Coast Canada-Galilee Panhandle Partnership, and the Ronald S. Roadburg Founda tion, the center was founded with a clear mission: to enhance the quality of life in the Eastern Galilee through informed policy decisions grounded in locally rel

Tel-Hai Magazaine | 2023-2024

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