Shira's Story: A Young Leader Receives Recognition for Excellence
Community
City: Beit Shemesh
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the United Jewish Endowment Fund are changing the lives of Ethiopian-Israelis in Beit Shemesh through the important work of the Ethiopian National Project (ENP) in this city. And critical to ENP's work are the many outstanding staff and volunteers at the ENP Youth Center in the Gefen neighborhood who make a difference in the lives of Ethiopian-Israeli youth every day.
In April 2013, Shira -- an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier and volunteer at the ENP Youth Center in Beit Shemesh -- was one of 120 soldiers to be bestowed last month the highest honor of the Presidential Award of Excellence.
Read Shira’s story, and how she and the ENP Youth Outreach Center in the Gefen neighborhood of Beit Shemesh are helping to turn dreams into reality for Ethiopian-Israeli teenagers.
Here is just some of Shira’s story, and how she and the ENP Youth Outreach Center in the Gefen neighborhood of Beit Shemesh are helping to turn dreams into reality for Ethiopian-Israeli teenagers:
I made aliya to Israel in 1999 at the age of six. I lived in the Mevasseret Tzion Absorption Center just outside of Jerusalem until 2002. From there, I moved here to the Gefen neighborhood, where the ENP Youth Center in Beit Shemesh is.
For high school, I left Beit Shemesh to study in the Yemin Orde Boarding School, where I graduated twelfth grade in 2010. After that I performed a year of voluntary service, where I worked with third graders in the mornings and in the afternoons and evenings I worked with at-risk youth.
After my volunteer year I began my mandatory army service. I was part of the Nachal (“noar halutzei lochem”—pioneer fighting youth) Garin Eithan, where I was trained to be a Youth Counselor. I then became an officer of a Gadna (gdudei noar ivri- Hebrew youth battalion, a youth training course in weaponry and preparation for the army). After that experience, as part of my army service, I was able to work in the neighborhoods that are in desperate need of assistance. Here, I had the fortune to return to my very own neighborhood in Beit Shemesh, and to work with the youth and children here.
As a counselor at the ENP Youth Outreach Center, I come to the Center three times a week. Here, I work with every single one of the youngsters. My work is so meaningful here, especially because I know that I am serving as a personal example to each of the kids—as a soldier, as an Ethiopian-Israeli, and as one who came from this very neighborhood. They see where I am today, and I hope-- and know-- that they can reach even greater heights.
I was honored to have received the Award of Excellence this year, just as I am honored to be a part of ENP’s Youth Outreach Center.