June 6: First Day/ Introductions

By -

    

    Hello! My name is Shari Spiegel and I am a rising junior at The Ohio State University majoring in Primary Education. I grew up in a small suburb called Beachwood in Cleveland Ohio. I am currently on a program called Onward where I chose to intern at the Ethiopian National Project with hopes to become more educated and build my work experience. I am so excited to be able to share my journey at ENP with everyone!


June 6: First Day/ Introductions 

Between figuring out public transportation, the anxiety of meeting coworkers, and figuring out the work environment, the first day of a new job/internship is very nerve racking. Luckily, I had nothing to worry about. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. I immediately noticed the pleasant atmosphere when I had a meeting with the Director of International Relations where we spoke about expectations and my focus areas. From this conversation we decided I will be initiating a project called “Pen Pals” where Ethiopian students will be communicating with other students by handwriting in journals and sending a picture to the designated pen pal bi weekly. Journal prompts will be provided to give the children some inspiration regarding conversation starters.  At the end of summer, participants will be introduced via zoom where they can converse on all they have learned about each other! Hopefully this will enhance students English skills. An additional focus for my time at ENP is this blog where I will share my personal experience. It was a fantastic first day that got me excited to spend the next two months interning at such a fulfilling place.


- Shari Spiegel

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Celebrating Sigd: Old Traditions Meet New Communities

By -
Image
The Sigd festival held last week in Jerusalem was a special experience because it demonstrated a balance between isolation and assimilation, between tradition and modernity. Until contemporary times, the holiday of Sigd was practiced solely by Ethiopian Jews. Sigd celebrates the acceptance of the Torah and the desire to return to Israel and the Temple. It also marks the day that God is thought to have revealed Himself to Moses. Walking through the festival here in Jerusalem, it was impossible not to notice the subtle ways that Ethiopian and Israeli cultures alike have shaped our modern celebration of Sigd. Ethiopian Israelis dressed in traditional garments intermingled with those wearing popular street fashion. But, most importantly, it was not only the Ethiopian Israeli community celebrating. The crowd represented a mix of Jewish identities from numerous origins. For many immigrants, making a new life in another country tragically requires relinquishing ties to one’s traditions and ho
Read more

Interning at ENP: Translating Books, Teaching Surfing, and Singing Hatikva

By -
Image
     I’m Sacha Toberoff, a summer intern at Ethiopian National Project (ENP) through the Columbia/Barnard Hillel Onward program. I’m studying history and political science at Columbia University. I grew up in a secular Jewish home in Malibu, California. I’ve always had a strong connection with my cultural background and recognized the importance of Israel, as my Safta grew up here. This is my first time in Israel and I have been delighted to connect with the land of my ancestors. I chose to intern with ENP because it is doing pivotal work to support the Ethiopian Israeli community by sponsoring scholarships and hosting leadership and English language programs. I have a background in service and legal work and am excited to bring these skills to ENP. Before coming to ENP, I knew little about the struggles of the Ethiopian Jewish community making Aliyah. For many years, they dreamed of returning to Israel, and when it was finally possible it took tremendous effort and sacrifice to make t
Read more

Interview with Roni Akale

By -
Roni Akale is the first to share his story in our breathtaking project, #ENPeople documenting the lives and stories of different members of the ENP community. This project was created by our amazing intern Noa, a very talented photographer and storyteller. Noa photographs her subjects proceeding an interview about the subject's life and experiences. Over the next couple of months, Noa will be interviewing and photographing a variety of members in the ENP community including students, parents, and administrators in the organization. Noa hopes to amplify the voices of the Ethiopian Israeli community through a platform that highlights the strength and resilience of her interviewees. She hopes readers are inspired become mindful about their actions and resources so they can do more to help Ethiopians in Israeli society feel welcomed, supported, and heard. Read Roni's story below: “I was born in a Jewish village called Woinya. I was a shepherd. When I was six, my parents decided
Read more