Milwaukee Jewish Federation's Young Adult Division Visits ENP SPACE
Below are reflections written by ENP intern Sylvia Miller on her first mission with ENP to the SPACE program:
Yesterday I went to Afula with the Ethiopian National Project for an outing where members of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation met with the students who are involved in one of ENP’s SPACE (School Performance and Community Empowerment) Programs. These programs promote academic growth and improvement by providing supplementary tutoring to students in small groups. Alongside its academic components, the Program works to strengthen students' self-esteem and leadership
skills by addressing obstacles to social integration and personal development. The program helps students to connect to their heritage and to incorporate this ethnic culture into their everyday lives. Students enrolled in the Program also receive preparation for army service, which enables them to choose from a broader base of positions once enlisted. Lastly, the SPACE Program provides all of its participants with a lunchtime meal, which helps ensure that students attend tutoring sessions engaged
and ready to learn.
Upon arriving in Afula we were given time to interact with the kids before our planned programming. During this time the Ethiopian Israeli students surprised me with their English ability, asking me engaging questions, and those that struggled were quick to pull up their google translate. Some of the most memorable experiences from this outing were the student’s shock when they saw me because I apparently look like Joey King, from The Kissing Booth on Netflix! Their excitement grew as they discovered I am from Chicago and named off their favorite Bulls players. Another comedic moment was the student’s confusion upon asking my age; they thought I looked fourteen or fifteen
years old and I could not be eighteen!
Besides bonding with the students I was also able to learn more about ENP’s programs from a first- hand account. The students shared their appreciation for the program and their commitment to their own education. The SPACE programs that go on are truly inspiring and their ability to change a student’s education, mindset, and more likely their whole life.
I am so glad I am volunteering with the Ethiopian National Project and am able to gain exposure to more facets of Israeli society while trying to make a positive change.