ENP and MEPI's Pilot Youth Leadership Program
The US Embassy's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) focuses on empowering partnerships between citizens, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and government institutions to promote shared solutions for the people of the Middle East and North America. This year, the main grant focus for MEPI was to increase youth engagement in meaningful economic and civic activities. After a rigorous application process, ENP is proud to partner with MEPI to pilot a leadership program in 10 cities throughout Israel.
The Youth Empowerment and Civic Engagement program is a prestigious program where, after applying, 150 Ethiopian-Israeli students in 8th-12th grade will have leadership training and the opportunity to be a part of youth councils, giving the students tools to represent their community in a society where they might feel underrepresented.
Throughout the year, these students will participate 15 workshops, on topics such as the political landscape of Israel, conflict resolution, and Ethiopian culture and leadership (past and present) and how to grow in the future. Throughout the year, the students will also develop a community project, a service opportunity to better their local community and further their experience in leadership, on both the classroom and municipal levels. Students will also participate in a regional and national conferences where they will share their ideas about creating change in their community.
From these experiences, the students will be empowered and learn more about leadership so that they can receive and take leadership roles in the future – be that in the army, university, or the workforce. Through this program, these students will become active members of society thereby providing a voice for the Ethiopian-Israeli community on a municipal and national level, which will increase the government’s responsiveness to the community’s needs.
ENP is so thankful to MEPI for this opportunity and looks forward to sharing our successes of this joint program.