ENP Volunteer Reflects on Visit to Ramla

Today, I went on my first site visit as a volunteer with the Ethiopian National Project. I had the opportunity to join a group of American students from the University of Kansas as they met group of students participating in the Scholastic Assistance program in Ramla. The Ethiopian-Israeli students were dissecting hearts in their science enrichment class, and the American University students joined in seamlessly. As the participants explained to the Americans what they were doing to the hearts, where they were cutting, and what they were looking for, they also managed to discuss their common favorite bands, such as One Direction. It was an amazing opportunity for ENP participants to talk to American University students, and ask them questions about their lives and see the common ground they share. The American students enjoyed helping with the dissection and getting to hear more about the lives of the participants. After this vibrant cultural exchange we met with ENP professional staff, and heard their personal stories of Aliyah.

Grace began by providing background information on Ethiopian Jewry and Aliyah to Israel. Ethiopian Jewry had lived isolated from global Jewry for over 2,000 years.

On May 24, 1991, during a time of political instability, Operation Solomon took place to bring over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel, in just 36 hours.  This operation reunited many families that had been separated since Operation Moses, which brought over 8,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel between 1981 and 1985. During operation Moses thousands of Ethiopians fled the famine on foot to Sudan. One third of those who fled perished along the way. Many Ethiopian Jews suffered great hardships before arriving in Israel; unfortunately, many continue to experience hardships here as well.

The majority of Ethiopian Israelis live in poverty; this is why The Ethiopian National Project exists. ENP was created to help and empower the Ethiopian community through education and community building. ENP works with the communities to solve issues from the bottom up, with an emphasis on education for the leaders of tomorrow.

Shulamit

Shulamit came to Israel through Operation Moses in 1984 at the age of two; she was carried on her Mother’s back from Ethiopia to Sudan, where they were airlifted to Israel. She feels that the work ENP does is her life calling, working to help and empower her community. She wants to emphasize that ENP is much more then tutoring or scholastic assistance, it is a community resource.

Tamar echoes Shulamit’s sentiments, saying that many kids don’t know where they came from and who they are. ENP provides positive role models that bridge the gap between being Israeli and Ethiopian. School teaching the kids “things” but ENP teaching them how to think and engage with what they know. Here, we encourage kids to dream big because we know they are leaders of tomorrow.

Adisu

In 1984, at the age of 9, Adisu made Aliyah through operation Moses. He reflects on his own children learning the story of his Aliyah as history in school. He still remembers the journey from Ethiopia to Sudan and life in the refugee camps in Sudan. He says that although the conditions were extraordinarily difficult the dream of returning to Jerusalem was what kept people going from day to day.  As an Ethiopian child growing up in Israel in the 80’s Adisu did not have access to the programs like ENP because they didn’t yet exist. His hope for the Ethiopian Israeli youth of today is that they take advantage of the opportunities he never had. He stresses that education is the key to success for the Ethiopian community in Israel.

We ended the day with a question and answer session. The students asked about racial inequality and prejudice here in Israel. Adisu responded by saying just how quickly racial discrimination has begun to improve.  He told the group that believes within the next thirty years there could be an Ethiopian-Israeli Prime Minister. He feels that when there are black doctors and professors and generals in the army, this is when there will be true equality, and it is completely achievable through educational programs such as this.

We left the meeting on a positive note, feeling hopeful that programs such as ENP Scholastic Assistance are making an impact on the future of Ethiopian Israelis as well as Israeli society as a whole. Hearing from the staff and participants at ENP was an extraordinary experience; I not only learned about the important role ENP plays in their lives, but I was also able to see and really feel the impact ENP makes.