Giving Opportunities in Israel: Ethiopian Advancement

The Challenge Grant for Ethiopian Israeli Youth
The Challenge Grant for Ethiopian Israeli Youth is e powerful venture partnership of The Ethiopian National Project (ENP), ATIDIM, United Jewish Communities, and the Federations of North America, It will provide comprehensive intervention for the top one-third of Ethiopian junior and high school students in 14 communities and Youth Aliyah villages, to keep these teens in school and help them competitively complete the university entrance exams (Bagrut). These are the youngsters that have the academic potential—and with our help, can progress to higher education.

Ethiopian National Project (ENP) Project SPACE
The Ethiopian National Project (ENP) has launched Project SPACE‹Schooling Priorities and Community Empowerment ‹to boost the number of Ethiopian immigrant students who stay in school and pass Israel¹s university entrance exams. Targeting 4,500 students (2,500 in junior high and 2,000 in high school), SPACE offers an integrated, comprehensive approach to key educational imperatives: reducing dropout rates; instilling the importance of higher education; accelerating the number of students who prepare for and pass Israel¹s matriculation exams; increasing parental involvement; and strengthening the connection between students and their heritage and Ethiopian culture

A Guiding Hand: Employment Program for Ethiopian Immigrants
This project is designed to move new immigrants from Ethiopia into gainful employment through personal assistance, both before and after their placement. Hebrew classes, practical vocational training and assistance in finding work, as well as on-the-job support and guidance are all part of the program.

Absorbing New Immigrants - the Initial Absorption Experience
New immigrants from Ethiopia have not only to deal with the absorption issues facing all new immigrants, but also face tremendous social and cultural gaps. The initial stay in an absorption center is designed to help bridge those gaps.

All Aboard: Bus and Truck Driver Training Program
This program trains new immigrants from Ethiopia to work as bus and truck drivers, a profession which requires lengthy training and licensing and which, a result, is of relatively high status.

Artists’ Industrial Village for Ethiopian Immigrants
This program will create an industrial village for Ethiopian artisians, and will replace an absorption center experience.

Big Brothers and Sisters
Identifying Ethiopian students who have been in Israel for extended periods and have successfully integrated into Israeli society yet understand the culture and mentality of the younger immigrant (who is at the beginning of the absorption process) will be sought to serve as role models and “Big Brothers and Sisters”.

Bridges to Jerusalem
Bridges to Jerusalem, targets 13-18 year-old Ethiopian youth living in development towns in Israel and teaches them the historical significance of Jerusalem to the Jewish people and the role that Zionism has played. It also offers seminars that trace the contribution of the Ethiopian community to Jewish history and Jewish life, emphasizing each person’s unique role.

Community Treatment of Ethiopian Girls at Risk
Community-based rather than project-based intervention, linking municipal and government services, creating community-wide agreement for the benefit of Ethiopian girls at risk who have dropped out of the education system.

“First Home in the Homeland”: Kibbutz Absorption Program
This program successfully provides new immigrants – both parents and children – with a “soft landing” and every opportunity to settle down well by enabling new immigrants to spend their first few months in Israel in the supportive environment of a kibbutz. There,immigrants combine an ulpan program with vocational training and/or work in one of the kibbutz’s service branches or factories. A special version of the program has been created for young Ethiopian immigrants.

First Rung on the Ladder: Employment Program for Women Immigrants
from Ethiopia and Bukhara
For immigrant women, going out to work enhances their self-image and enables them to raise their family’s standard of living. And yet many immigrant women from Ethiopia and Bukhara have no experience of working outside the home. This program aims to integrate such women into the workforce by helping them to understand Israeli social norms, assisting them in finding jobs, strengthening their entrepreneurial abilities and providing on-the-job support

“Hafuch al Hafuch” - The Meeting Place for Young Immigrants
In many cases young Ethiopians are alienated from other young immigrants and Israelis and have no sources of information or places where they can meet and get help before their situation deteriorates. The “Hafuch al Hafuch” centers provide them with such a place.

Kedma: Advancement Program for Immigrants from Ethiopia
In order to prepare new immigrants from Ethiopia to get good jobs and earn a decent living, this year-long absorption program helps Ethiopian immigrants aged 20-25 to adjust to their new life in Israel. The program gives them the skills and tools to go on to college or to learn a trade.

Kesher Cham (Experiential, Developmental Contact) in the Negev
The adaptation of Ethiopian immigrant children to Israeli society and culture is often marked by difficulties. Many children require special assistance to improve and strengthen their emotional development. 4. There is a need to intervene and encourage the 15 and 16 year olds from the city and kibbutz to contribute by serving as mentors and big brothers/sisters to the Ethiopians. Such meetings will be beneficial to all participants, by improving their social skills.

Path to the Future
Path to the Future provides a means of promoting integration among immigrant youth and their peers and encouraging native-born Israelis to appreciate the customs and traditions of the young immigrants. The project operates in the Amakim-Tabor Educational Institution in the Jezreel Valley, and involves a traveling bicycle riding group in which Ethiopian and native-born Israelis explore the Jezreel Valley, participate in competitive riding events and undertake environmental missions. Students also receive computer training at Amakim-Tabor in order to narrow the academic/technological gap.

Providing Computers for Students who have Immigrated from Ethiopia
In this modern day and age much focus is put on computer literacy. The computer has become a major source of information, means of education, communication and an asset when looking for a job.This project would help provide Ethiopian students who are studying computers with a PC.

Right from the Start: Preschool Education for Ethiopian Children
The challenges facing all new immigrants – but especially those from Ethiopia – can at times seem insurmountable. Young children in these families have the best chance at full, successful integration, and ultimately serve as a bridge between the traditional world of their parents and Israeli culture. But to realize their potential, it is essential to ensure from the start that they have access to the educational resources that will put them on an equal footing with their Israeli peers. This project provides high-quality staff and educational resources for young Ethiopian children attending pre-school in the absorption center.

Scholarships for Ethiopian Students
Special five-year Student Authority scholarships, jointly provided by JAFI and the government of Israel, give Ethiopian students the opportunity to overcome educational, economic and social gaps and to pursue advanced studies at dozens of universities and other schools of higher education. Over 50% of the recipients are young women.

School for Leadership Development Among Ethiopian Immigrants
The Jewish Agency is heavily involved in the absorption of Ethiopian immigrants. The immigrants come from different regions and are integrated into life in various absorption frameworks. This program is designed to empower leadership among immigrants in absorption frameworks.

Shva
The 100 14-16 year-old Ethiopian scouts participating in the program come from towns all over Israel with large immigrant communities. They receive leadership training that does not compromise their cultural identity, and are afforded typical Israeli cultural experiences. This, in turn, leads to pride for who they are, a feeling of belonging to Israeli society and, it is hoped, eventually put an end to the “needy immigrant outsider” stereotype.

Sparks of Science: Technology Enrichment Program for Ethiopian Students
This program encourages high school students of Ethiopian origin to study science and engineering at university. The program includes weekly activities held in university laboratories, as well as weekly tutorials held in the hometowns of participants, led by local graduate students. The program also includes social activities for the whole group, and for their families, as well as a science-focused summer camp. The program is already operating under the auspices of the Technion in Haifa and the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot. It is currently being extended to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

Special Assistance for Ethiopian New Immigrants at Jewish Agency Absorption Centers
The Jewish Agency Absorption Centers and their staff are the first home for Ethiopian new immigrants in Israel. It is in this setting that the immigrants encounter their first absorption problems, and the significant gap between cultures. It would be extremely helpful to be able to provide for the most pressing needs of these people that include medical care, education and enrichment. This project will help to meet some of these needs for which neither the government nor the Jewish Agency is funding.

Springboard: Empowerment Program for Ethiopian Men and Women
This program helps Ethiopian-born men and women understand the norms of Israeli society, guides them in negotiating the changing roles within their own family, encourages them to go out to work and supports them in finding a job. Participants in the program may partake in a professional retraining course, may participate in a series of workshops and/or participate in an extensive Hebrew ulpan.

Step Inside: Housing Advisers for Ethiopian Olim
In the past, Ethiopian families have encountered numerous difficulties in traversing the Israeli housing market. Buying a home can be a confusing process, and a misstep can have immediate and long-term impact on a family’s successful integration. This project engages housing mediators to provide crucial support and assistance to Ethiopian families throughout the entire purchase process.

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