Today, Jewish Communal Fund CEO Sue Dickman is in Israel where she presented a $100,000 grant to Olim BeYachad, a nonprofit that helps Ethiopian-Israelis gain employment and become self-sufficient. This gift from the JCF Special Gifts Fund will fund the participation of 40 Ethiopian-Israeli young adults in EELP (Employment, Empowerment, and Leadership program). This gift was made possible through a bequest to the Jewish Communal Fund earmarked for grant-making in Israel.
The Ethiopian-Israeli community in Israel, numbering over 115,000 individuals, faces numerous hardships on the path to successful integration into mainstream society. Even today, years after the first waves of Ethiopian immigration have concluded, this sector still struggles with below-average income per capita, high unemployment rate, and low levels of enrollment in institutions of higher learning. Fewer than 15 percent of Ethiopian-Israeli university graduates are currently employed in jobs that are commensurate with their education. Olim BeYachad addresses this challenge by providing Ethiopian-Israelis with an equal opportunity to gain jobs that suit their academic preparation. To date, EELP has served 700 Ethiopian-Israeli university graduates, providing them with a broad range of enrichment programs, references to potential employers, English-language courses and tutors, and mentors drawn from the top echelons of the Israeli professional sector.