Ethiopian Project

The majority of the field research for my independent study topic regarding the status of Ethiopian Israelis will take place through an organization called the Ethiopian National Project.  I met with the director and other volunteers for the organization on Sunday afternoon, and with great pleasure I learned that I’d be able to visit Ethiopian villages and teach English to their youth during my stay in Israel.  Not only does this opportunity allow me to experience first-hand the challenging environments in which Ethiopians live, but it also affords me an avenue to test the thesis to my research. 

Among the ranks of education and the work force, Ethiopian Israelis are clearly lacking in representation.  Initiatives and programs that have been framed to alleviate the gap between Ethiopian Israelis and the rest of Israelis are proving to be successful.  However, further strides must be taken in order to ensure the confidence of the Ethiopian community.  Studies have found that although students are competent, they lack the confidence necessary to interact with their white, Israeli counterparts.  There can be endless argument and debate over why this is the case, but the Ethiopian National Project focuses on addressing the issue rather than passively arguing over the causes of it. 

Paradoxical to a challenging absorption process, the reason Ethiopians immigrated to Israel in the first place was in search of acceptability and a land in which they could proudly proclaim their Zionist ideals.  After being exposed to a movement that looks forward rather than dwells on the past, I am more confident in this community’s future.  They refuse to coil beneath the hardships and discriminations that were cast on them as soon as their arrival in Israel.  It’s inspiring to see a network of support and advocacy for the Ethiopian community to not only grow, but have positive and tangible effects as well.