Home › About Us ›

About Us

Background:

The Ethiopian Israeli community in Israel, numbering over 115,000 individuals, faces numerous hardships on the path to successful integration into mainstream society. Even today, years after the first waves of Ethiopian immigration have concluded, this sector still struggles with below-average income per capita, a high unemployment rate, and low levels of enrollment in institutions of higher education. Despite these challenges, over 4,500 Ethiopian Israelis have overcome all odds and completed post-secondary education, only to find that their financial situation has not necessarily improved. Less than 15% of these university and college graduates find employment in jobs compatible with their degrees, and nearly 75% of these earn less than the average Israeli salary. Moreover, a recent study revealed that 53% of Israeli employers are averse to hiring Ethiopian Israelis. All of these factors combine to not only put the Ethiopian Israeli community – even the educated sector – at an economic disadvantage, but also discourage the younger generation from pursuing an academic degree and trying to break out of the cycle of poverty and distress.

Olim Beyahad's vision is that the Ethiopian immigrant community will be successfully integrated in all aspects of mainstream Israeli life, including employment, housing, education, and social spheres. We aim to see excelling Ethiopian Israeli university graduates serving as leaders and role models within the Ethiopian community as well as in Israel’s economic and social strata.

 Goals:

  • To assist excelling Ethiopian Israeli university graduates and students in finding employment suitable to their education, talents, and abilities

  • To provide program participants with the tools and skills necessary to properly absorb into the Israeli work force, as well as into Israeli society as a whole

  • To motivate Ethiopian Israeli youth to seek a university degree

  • To empower young leadership within the Ethiopian Israeli population with the ability to advance itself and its community

  • To eliminate Israeli society’s prejudices and stereotypical images of the Ethiopian sector

Achievements:

  • Since the organization's establishment in 2007, over 300 university graduates have been successfully placed at appropriate jobs in the forefront of Israel's work force. This is in comparison with the 23 Ethiopian Israeli university graduates who were employed in suitable jobs prior to the establishment of Olim Beyahad, which represents an increase of more than 1,100% in 4 years.

  • 90% of all participants who have been placed continue in their jobs for at least a second year, and some have even been promoted to managerial positions

  • The organization has recruited approximately 1,500 volunteers who are involved in various areas of the organization's operations and work to accomplish its mission.

  • We have established a pool of over 200 business corporations and government bodies who work to hire program participants. Most of the companies that employ our participants never before employed Ethiopian Israelis in professional positions. For a list of current employers, click here.

  • Around 15 organizations have hired multiple program participants as a result of their positive experiences in hiring previous program participants

    • Due to the success of our unique and innovative work model, we were asked to compose a detailed and professional publication of our model which will enable others to apply the model to additional disadvantaged target populations. For more information, click here.

    • Olim Beyahad was recognized by the Israeli government as the only organization capable of providing employment-related training and activities that practicaly result in  promoting hiring to Ethiopian Israeli university graduates.

 Supporting Partners

We greatly appreciate the support of our donors, including:

  • Bank HaPoalim

  • Checkpoint Software Technologies

  • Gandyr Foundation

  • Glencore Fondation

  • Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

  • IDB Foundation

  • Israel Student Authority

  • Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco

  • Ministry of Absorption

  • Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor

  • My Israel

  • Natan Foundation

  • Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund

  • UJA Federation of New York

  • Yad HaNadiv Foundation

  • Yahel Foundation

 

Contact Information

Contact Person:  Sigal Kanotopsky – Resource Development Manager

Telephone: 972-77-506-0840

Mobile: 972-50-313-8021

Email: sigalkano@gmail.com