Field Coordinators

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Field Coordinators

ENP’s Field Supervisors, all of whom are Ethiopian-Israeli, are located throughout
Israel. They provide oversight and guidance for all of ENP’s programs, ensuring that
every ENP dollar is being used to affect change.

ENP Field Coordinators:

Yuval Alamo - Hadera, Netanya, Petach Tikva
Hirut Alamo-Shapira - Kiryat Yam,Yokneam
Elimeleh Mamo - Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot
Noah Mentesnot - Pardes Chana
Daniel Nadawo - Arad, Beer Sheva, Beit Shemesh, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi
Ambachew Reda - Jerusalem
Sharon Tarkin - Afula, Beit Shean, Migdal Haemek, Nazereth Illit
Omer Taychaw - Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Motzkin, Tirat Hacarmel
Adisu Zhayi - Gedera, Lod, Ramla, Rehovot

Yuval Alamo

Yuval was born in 1979 in a northern Ethiopian city called Bahar Dar (he was actually Batel
Shmueli’s neighbor in Ethiopia). He is one of nine children. Yuval learned until 7th grade in
Ethiopia. In 1991, when he was 11, his family started their journey to Israel through Addis
Ababa. This is after Operation Solomon. They traveled for two days on a bus to Addis Ababa.
Yuval and his family stayed in Addis for 3 weeks, waiting to make aliyah. They flew to Italy with
a group of tourists, spent the night in Italy and from there took an El Al flight to Israel.

Yuval’s family arrived in Israel and moved to Poriah, a town of caravans in northern Israel
all filled with new immigrants to Israel- Russians and Ethiopians. His family stayed there for
three years, but two weeks after arriving in Israel Yuval was sent off to a dormitory- the Kaduri
School in Kfar Tavor, the same school where Yitzchak Rabin learned. At the end of every
school year, Rabin would visit the school and speak to the students. He made a very strong
impression on Yuval and motivated him to continue in his studies and join the Israeli army.
After three years, Yuval transferred to the Hadasim School in the area of Netanya because his
parents moved to Bat Yam.

After finishing high school with a full quality matriculation certificate, Yuval joined the
prestigious Atuda program and went straight to the University of Haifa where he studied
education and political science. After finishing his degree, Yuval joined the IDF where he
helped take care of prison inmates and worked with them on an individual basis, helping them prepare for readjustment to civilian life after their release from jail. Yuval was in the army for a total of five and half years, for which the majority of he was an officer.

After his release from the army, Yuval joined the Ethiopian National Project family and now
works as the supervisor in Netanya and Hadera. He currently lives in Petach Tikva and in his
free time enjoys listening to all types of music, playing sports, and reading.

After his release from the army, Yuval joined the Ethiopian National Project family and now
works as the supervisor in Netanya, Hadera and Petach Tikva. He currently lives in Petach Tikva and in his free time enjoys listening to all types of music, playing sports, and reading.

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Hirut Alamo-Shapira

Hirut made aliya in 1991 when she was twelve years old, joining her father and his family who were already living in Israel. The meaning of Hirut’s name is freedom. This name was chosen for her as her father sat in jail for his Zionist beliefs. After receiving a degree in nursing, her father went on to study at the Schechter Institute and became the first Ethiopian Conservative Rabbi to be ordained in Israel.

After arriving in Israel, Hirut went to study at a boarding school where she tried to fit in and be
like everyone else in her new country. She was a good student but struggled with mathematics. Upon finishing high school she went to the army. After almost two years, she was a civilian again and was free to begin her studies.

Hirut then began studying at the University of Haifa. Before she could begin her studies
in earnest she needed to improve her grade in mathematics and did one year of intensive
studies at the University to pass the exam. Hirut remained true to her belief that if you are
going to change your life you have to work hard for it, improved her grade and moved on to
begin studying theatre at the University of Haifa for the next three years. She later went on to
receive her Masters degree in literature.

During the past six years Hirut has carried out extensive work with youth, in a variety of
settings, teaching theater, giving youth tools to use the energy they have to do positive things
and to accept differences, something that she finds rewarding and important. She treasures
speaking with youth because she recognizes that they have so much to say about the world
and she finds she learns much from them and their experiences.

As an actress in Israel she took a part in the Shakespeare play “All’s Well That Ends Well” as
Clown, a character who may be a fool but who has intelligent things to say about society and
the way things work. This character was the perfect opportunity for Hirut to show herself and
she truly made the character her own.

Hirut also has visited the United States as a representative of National Security in Israel,
speaking to people about making aliya, answering their questions and talking to them about
Israel. In this role she was not only an Ethiopian, representing the place where she was born, but also an Israeli representing the place where she lives and has decided to make her life. Hirut works with ENP as a supervisor in northern Israel. As part of her work she helps to direct and guide ENP’s activities in the field. She also makes herself available for the youth to speak with her about what they see happening and what they think needs to be transformed.

The work that Hirut does, she does because she feels that it is her purpose. She believes she is in Israel for a reason, as is the Ethiopian community – to give something to Israeli society. “As you give from yourself you give to others,” she explains. She knows the time will come when the Ethiopian community will be a true, integrated part of Israeli society, but that it will not be easy and will take a lot of hard work. And for Hirut, that work is tremendously worthwhile and enriching.

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Elimeleh Mamo

Elimeleh Mamo is the ENP supervisor in Ashdod, Ashkelon and Sderot. Elimeleh made aliyah to Israel from Gondher in 1984 at the age of 12 with his two brothers and his father. Before arriving in Israel, Elimeleh walked from Ethiopia to Sudan for two weeks with his cousins. His parents only joined him there nine months later. Elimeleh vividly remembers not having enough to drink in the desert and an intensely powerful heat.

In Sudan, Elimeleh and his family were constantly running from place to place in an attempt to stay hidden from Sudanese authorities who were notorious for beating and abusing Ethiopian refugees. After remaining in hiding for a year, Elimeleh finally came to Israel. His mother and three other siblings remained in Sudan and joined them a month later. Elimeleh has devoted himself to helping immigrants integrate into Israeli society. Elimeleh's work towards this goal extends into his professional life, as well as the volunteer activity that he is involved in.

Before beginning his work with ENP, Elimeleh served in the Israeli Defense Force as Officer of Air Force maintenance from 1989-1992. After completing his army service, Elimeleh studied in courses for community leadership development, international relations, and community involvement. He is currently in his fourth year at the Achva College, pursuing a degree in education.

Before joining ENP, Elimeleh worked in a professional capacity as the director of the absorption center in Gedera. Before that he worked as an employment coordinator for Fidel, the Association for Education and Social Integration of Ethiopian Jews in Israel, and the Office of Absorption in Israel. He also served as the project coordinator for the Jewish Agency's "Big Brother" program, as well as supervisor of housing-related issues in three absorption centers, under the auspices of the Jewish Agency.

Elimeleh has constantly been involved in volunteer activity. His involvement in public service has been in areas such as education, integration of immigrants into society, and leadership development. Elimeleh also served as the chairman of a non-for-profit organization called "Opening up the Gates" that was dedicated to encouraging women to enter the work force.
Elimeleh enjoys listening to masenqo music. Masenqo is a single-string bowed lute used by Ethiopian minstrels, or azmaris, "singer" in Amharic. In his free time, he plays volleyball. Elimeleh resides in Ashkelon with his wife and three children.

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