Living in Levinsky Park

In Levinsky Park, the central playground serves as the main residence for African refugees in Tel Aviv. Residents in the park often sleep and make their home in the play-set tubes and on the ground.

Levinsky Park sits a few blocks from the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv.

Many of the residents live in apartments above local shops, run by friends in the African community. Even with legal papers, most refugees are not given the right to work and have to rely on jobs from community members. Those able to work can afford housing. Some are able to qualify for non-profit shelters while other still live in the park.

Most of the refugees come from Sudan or Eritrea. Most struggle with English or know enough Hebrew to get by but typically speak in their native languages from their country of origin.

Levinsky Park residents in Tel Aviv often decorate the playground with their blankets, or hang their clothes out to dry - and even an Israeli flag. They hope for better days in Israel where they might gain refugee status or a job. One man said Israel was all he had so for now he is thankful but hopes his status will change

With no job or school to attend, many Sudanese and Eritran residents in Tel Aviv come to Levinsky Park to sit with their homeless friends, talking and sharing their impressions of the day.

A man sits alone near a trashcan behind the playground at Levinsky park. Some of the Sudanese and Eritrean residents who reside in the park choose to sit alone, begging for change from passers-by.

The few meager belongings of a refugee lie scattered around the area of the park which he has made his home.