Sending Ajo and Ishai off to America

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  A few days ago I had the opportunity to witness one of the most amazing things ENP has to offer. Myself and a few other interns went to the airport to send off two boys who will be returning to summer camp in America. Annually, ENP sends a set number of Ethiopian students to summer camp in America where they get to meet new people, enhance their English skills, and have a great summer in a new setting. Usually new students are selected to attend every year, but Ajo and Ishai had such a great time last year that they fought their way to returning this year. 

When we arrived at the airport we were accompanied by Ajo and his mother, Ishai, his brother and his mother. Grace, the Director of International Relations, gifted the boys with a few essentials. She first gave them an ENP shirt and then gave them their own journals so that they could document their amazing journeys and look back on their fun times. 

While Ajo and Ishai were waiting in the long line to check their bags in, the mothers of the boys were questioned about their point of view of this journey their sons were about to go on. The conversation was mostly in Hebrew, making it hard for myself and the other interns to understand them, but there were a few things I was able to understand. One of the questions asked was what their initial reaction was the previous year when the boys told them they wanted to pursue this opportunity. Ishai’s mother answered by saying she was very nervous, but this was an experience she could not take away from him.  This year she is not as nervous and knows he will have a blast. 

The bags were all checked in and it was time to say our goodbyes. The two boys hugged their families goodbye and went on their way. Although the families of Ishai and Ajo will miss their children, they are so proud of what they’re doing. I could see it in their hugs, goodbyes and the way the mothers looked at their sons. It was truly a beautiful thing to witness. And it is all because of ENP. 








- Shari Spiegel



















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