The most memorable thing about Aviel is the sense of quiet dignity and strength he exudes. To mistake his soft-spoken demeanor and low voice for shyness would be to completely overlook the ease with which, at 18, and in near-perfect English, he speaks maturely about his turbulent upbringing and his experience making Aliyah with his large family when he was only 7. He recalls, “At the beginning, I was so young, it was my first time being on a plane. It was so confusing; I didn't even realize I had moved. I didn't know what was going on...Then, when I came in to the school, the transition was difficult. The language side was easy, but socially I was very nervous.” Aviel was placed with other new Ethiopian immigrants in a special absorption class where he was taught Hebrew, math, and English until he was ready to advance to public school to integrate with other Israelis. Aviel learned quickly enough, but he had a hard time getting good marks in math. In the seventh grade, Aviel joined ENP’s SPACE Program and discovered the holistic support system he needed. The ways in which SPACE has helped Aviel are manifold, from providing him with additional scholastic assistance, to fostering friendships with other Ethiopian-Israelis of his age, to instilling in him motivation and confidence. Aviel aspires to become an electrical engineer, and since the 8th grade, he has been tracked in a rigorous and exclusive army program for engineers. Participation in this program requires the highest level of academic achievement, and because of SPACE, Aviel is well on his way to his chosen career.