ABOUT FRIENDS OF ENP
About Us
The Ethiopian National Project (ENP) is a national, collective effort to ensure that Ethiopian-Israelis have equitable access to opportunity and a full sense of belonging in Israeli society. With the support of Friends of the Ethiopian National Project, ENP brings together global Jewry, the Government of Israel, and Ethiopian-Israeli communities in a shared commitment to strengthen education, leadership, and social mobility. At its core, ENP is driven by the belief that Israel’s strength depends on the success and inclusion of all its citizens.
ENP is a unique partnership uniting the Jewish Federations of North America, the Government of Israel, representatives of Ethiopian-Israeli community organizations, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Israel (JDC-Israel), and Keren Hayesod–UIA. What distinguishes ENP is its deep, authentic collaboration with the Ethiopian-Israeli community itself. Community members are active partners at both the local and national levels, shaping program design, implementation, and evaluation to ensure initiatives are culturally responsive, effective, and sustainable.
Over the years, ENP has demonstrated measurable, lasting impact—improving educational outcomes, strengthening families, and cultivating a new generation of confident leaders. As Israel faces ongoing social and national challenges, continued investment through Friends of ENP enables the project to expand its reach, deepen its impact, and ensure that more Ethiopian-Israelis can thrive, contribute, and lead within a stronger, more cohesive Israeli society.
Our Impact
Noya, an 11th-grade SPACE participant from Netanya, had always been a dedicated and high-achieving student. She approached school with motivation and curiosity, especially when it came to challenging subjects like physics and math. But after the war broke out on October 7th, everything changed. The ongoing security threats, constant sirens, and overwhelming stress began to take a toll on her emotional well-being. “I used to love school,” Noya says. “But after the war started, I felt like everything I had worked for didn’t matter anymore. I stopped caring, and my motivation just disappeared.” Her grades slipped, and even getting through a regular school day became a struggle.
Noya turned to ENP SPACE for support. She was paired with Liel Fadida, a dedicated professional teacher who helped her reconnect with her goals and rediscover her inner strength. Through weekly one-on-one sessions, Liel provided both academic guidance and emotional encouragement, helping Noya work through tough material and even tougher feelings. “One day I got a hard question right, and Liel said, ‘See? You didn’t lose it. It’s still in you,’” Noya tells. With that reminder, something shifted. Her test scores in physics and math rose by 20 points, but more importantly, she started walking into class with confidence again. “It wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about believing in myself again,” she says. Today, Noya is once again thriving, thanks to SPACE. For her and so many other students in Netanya, SPACE has been a lifeline, restoring motivation, confidence, and a sense of purpose in a time of deep uncertainty.
