Hi! My name is Yerus Fisaha. I am 19 years old from Beit Shemesh. I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself today and my experience in the Ethiopian National Project’s SPACE, School Performance and Community Empowerment Program.

First of all, my full name is Eyerusalem which means Jerusalem. We, the Ethiopian Jewish community, yearned for thousands of years to return to Jerusalem, and this is the reason my parents called me Eyerusalem.

I was born in Tigray state, in Ethiopia. We lived in small, Jewish village near a city called Shreai. My father and mother met in school – they were both fortunate enough- to have an elementary school education, which was rare in village life. Their families knew each other, so it was arranged for them to be married—my mom was around 16 when she married my father. Sometimes it’s strange for me to think that if I were her, then, I would already be a mother of two.

My father was a shepherd, and my mother was a homemaker – or I guess you could say, hut-maker. They lived in a small village and had enough land to grow crops on, oxen to work the land, cows, sheep, donkeys and chickens. They had more than enough to support themselves and their family.

I don’t remember much from my life in Ethiopia, but sometimes my parents tell me stories that make me feel like I’m still there. One of my favorites is told by my dad. When he was 7 years old, he was given a goat as a gift from his grandmother. He loved the goat so much, but it turned out, for whatever reason, that goat only gave birth to males. So my father decided to sell one of the male goats and bought another female. But she got eaten by a wolf. So he sold another male goat, and bought a sheep, but she got sick and died. In the end, my father was so heartbroken, and felt the goat brought him so much sadness, that he sold that goat, too. In retrospect, that was not the wisest of business decisions, but then again, he was a seven year old village boy. Today, he is much wiser, and happy, too.

My family moved to Addis Ababa in 2001 with the hope of reaching Israel, which we finally did in 2005. I was six years old, and came together with my parents and my two brothers. Today I have four younger brothers.

My most vivid memory is when we landed and got off the airplane. I was on my dad’s shoulders, I wore a white dress and my grandma and aunt arrived to meet us and everyone was excited and cried. I don’t really remember how I felt when we got to Israel, but I do know that everything seemed so different. Unlike many of my friends, though, I was not shocked to see white people, because for me it was not the first time—I had a white teacher in Addis Ababa who taught me English.

When we moved out of the Haifa absorption center to the city of Beit Shemesh, my parents thought it would be easier for me to fit in if I had a Hebrew name, so when I started school my classmates were told my name is Esther. It has been a long process in the making, but when I reached twelfth grade, I decided I would return to my given name, which I hope you agree, is beautiful. 

Even though my parents just had a primary school education, they always pushed me to study, get good grades and go to university. But they were not able to help me with my studies. And that’s where ENP’s SPACE Program comes in.

SPACE is ENP’s after-school small group lessons. It has amazing teachers and counselors, incredible field trips and one-on-one guidance.

I started SPACE in 7th grade, but I really saw the difference the program had starting in 9th grade. It was so much more than just about my studies.

Once, we went on a visit to Tel Aviv University. It was the first time I was ever in a university. That trip alone made me realize that my parents wish for me to study at university is not a distant dream. It totally motivated me to want a higher education, and pushed me to begin exploring what I dream of doing, what options I have, and what I need to do to get there.

Of course, it helped with my studies, too. My biggest difficulty in school was in math. It was very difficult for me to learn in such a large class, during the regular school day. In SPACE I was able to study in a small group—in my SPACE group, we were four students, studying the highest levels of math. My SPACE math teacher, Amir, would always tell me that I can succeed in whatever I want and that I have the ability to get an A. At first, this was hard for me to believe because I used to get failing grades – in the 20s – on all of my math tests. But as I continued on in SPACE, it became less and less hard and in the end I received an 89 on math matriculation exam!

SPACE is special. I think I can best relay what SPACE means to me by telling you what I truly learned from my math teacher Amir, and from Sarit, my SPACE counselor.

I learned from Amir so much more than just school subjects. Amir believed in me and in my abilities. I felt comfortable asking him any questions that were on my mind. Amir gave his fullest attention to everyone. He was always ready to help and although he was only supposed to help me in math, when he heard I had another test coming up or was having difficulty in another subject, he would sit with me and help me – even if it meant staying after his work hours. He did this just so I could feel more confident when I went in to take the tests—it’s all about confidence. Amir helped me succeed. He was always there for me and the other students and gave so much more than he had to.

And then there’s Sarit. Sarit cared so much for us, like we were her little sisters. She would ask us if we needed something, check on how our studies are progressing. She would constantly tell us that if there is anything, we want or need, to tell her and she would do her best to make it happen. I remember looking at her and thinking to myself—if she cares so much for us, and does her best to do so much for us, well, then I need ALSO to do my best and use this opportunity I’ve been given AND encourage others to do so, too. Through Sarit, I saw the importance of SPACE, and so it became important to me too.

And that is why I am here today. To do my best, to be sure, that SPACE will be important to you, too.

SPACE is hundreds of Amirs, tens of Sarits, and thousands of kids like me, who just need that person who cares, who gives us the lessons we’ll take for a lifetime, run with on our own, and share with others, the moment we have a chance.

I’ve just begun my life, and have so much to look forward to. Right now I am in a pre-military program called ‘Gal’, I finished the first year and decided to continue for a second year, I’m studying so many amazing topics, while working on my leadership skills. My short-term goals include carrying out a meaningful service in the IDF and completing a degree in behavioral science or public policy. I see myself working in the field of education—I want to make a difference and change peoples’ lives. I also want to travel the world and learn new languages. And I know I can achieve all of this because of my time in SPACE.

So, thank you for letting SPACE give me the most valuable lessons I’ve learned-- believe in myself, work hard and learn from my mistakes. Thank you for making SPACE part of my life, and of so many others like me-- in large part, because of you, we can see what we can be and do. Because of you and SPACE, I know I will be able to achieve my goals and fulfill my dreams. My hope is more and more kids will have the opportunities that I had.

Thank you!