Federation Provides Emergency Support to the Ethiopian National Project
Courtesy of the Jewish Federations of North America

Destau was a seventh-grade student in Hadera with poor grades and a lack of motivation. His parents were unaware of where to turn for help, and he had come close to giving up on himself. Since attending the Ethiopian National Project’s Scholastic Assistance Program, funded by the Jewish Federations of North America, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Destau has started going to school more regularly and performing better in class. His grade level exam scores have improved and he was able to test into his first choice junior high school. “I am so thankful that people cared about me even when I didn’t think that I had anything worth saving,” said Destau.

Destau is one of 3,650 Ethiopian-Israeli students who will be able to continue participating in programs of the Ethiopian National Project (ENP) in Israel, a joint project of the Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Israeli government and the Ethiopian-Israeli community.

Thanks to emergency support from Federations, including over $33,400 from Vancouver, all 15 of ENP’s Youth Outreach Centers – which were in danger of closing due to budget cuts – will remain open in 2009-10. Meanwhile, 650 high school children will remain in Scholastic Assistance, ENP’s academic enrichment program, in 26 cities throughout Israel.

“Were these 15 centers to be closed, more than 1,500 teenagers would be on the streets, exposed to drugs, alcohol and violence,” said ENP director-general Dr. Nigist Mengesha. “Today, these teens will continue to be surrounded by positive role models and hope for a better future.”