Assist Ethiopian Jews Bridge Socio-Economic Gaps

                                                                                                                         February 2013

Dear Supporters of the Ariela Foundation,

 We continue to be extremely grateful and appreciative of your donations that are helping to improve the lives of young Ethiopian Jews that will become future role models for their community.

 The Ariela Foundation promotes excellence amongst Ethiopian Jewry. Our goal is to create change in the lives of Israeli youngsters of Ethiopian origin who show potential to excel, as a way of fomenting full social and economic integration. We provide guidance, while nurturing personal growth amongst participants. We expect our participants to become outstanding citizens with high moral values, who contribute to society and serve as positive role models. All of this is aimed at creating change at the personal level, within the family, in the community and throughout Israeli society.

 Some of our main activities throughout September-December 2012 included workshops to develop personal and social skills, workshops to increase inclination towards academic studies and to create awareness about future plans, workshops about Israeli society + developing/strengthening self-identity, a robotics workshop, a two week long family roots trip to Ethiopia for five participants, a visit to a horse riding stable, one on one personal mentoring and personal tutorial lessons.

 We are also thrilled to announce that in cooperation with the Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, the Jaffa Center for Leadership and the Buchman Heyman Foundation, we are about to open a new Star Program group in Jaffa. An introductory evening was held in December for candidates and their parents. We are finalizing the candidate selection process and activities are expected to begin in February.

 We would also like to share a few quotes from our students representing the transformation they are going through as a result of our activities:

“I am really happy to meet Ethiopian role models who have succeeded; it proves that it is possible to succeed in life.”

 “We went through a life changing experience that taught us where we are from and where we are heading in Israeli society, where we represent an inseparable part.”

 “From the meeting with university students I learnt how important it is to invest in your studies today and not waste time in the future by trying to improve old high school grades.”

 Thank you once again for your ongoing support that is helping to change the world.

 Eric Goldberg

Head of the Board of Directors

Ariela Foundation

Links:

• Ariela website

Dear Supporters of the Ariela Foundation,

 We continue to be extremely grateful and appreciative of your donations that are helping to improve the lives of young Ethiopian Jews that will become future role models for their community.

 The Ariela Foundation promotes excellence amongst Ethiopian Jewry. Our goal is to create change in the lives of Israeli youngsters of Ethiopian origin who show potential to excel, as a way of fomenting full social and economic integration. We provide guidance, while nurturing personal growth amongst participants. We expect our participants to become outstanding citizens with high moral values, who contribute to society and serve as positive role models. All of this is aimed at creating change at the personal level, within the family, in the community and throughout Israeli society.

 In this update, we would like to share with you the personal success story of Shira, one of our participants of the Star Program activities in the town of Ness Tziona.

 Shira is a 9th grade student from Ness Tziona and a third year participant of the Star Program. Over the last few years, she has taken part in a range of activities provided by Ariela including a yearlong science workshop, a field orienteering program and tutorial lessons. Throughout the 2011-2012 school year, she also received intensive personal mentoring from an Ariela Educational Coordinator. This one on one mentoring gave the extra edge that allowed her to advance her educational and social goals.

Shira has displayed significant improvement in terms of social skills and educational achievements with a first semester half year grade point average of 80, compared to 74 in the previous school year. She actually finished the 2011-2012 school year with an overall average of 90. Her teachers report a marked improvement in her attitude towards studying in terms of her seriousness and personal effort. Socially, she is now more engaged with other Star Program group peers and has begun to express her opinions in a more assertive manner.

Shira’s behavior and self-management skills have also improved dramatically and as she puts it “Since taking part in Ariela activities, especially over the last year, I feel more mature, responsible and serious. This change affects in a positive way my studies, my participation in activities, the relationship with my family and the way I think about my future.” She now believes in herself and takes more responsibilities upon herself.

 Shira claims that the personal mentoring provides her with a solid base for the future, a venue to share dilemmas and receive general advice for life. She claims, “Without Ariela, I would not have the support I need for planning my future….if I fail, I know there is someone there to assist me, someone beyond my family, someone that pushes me forward to success.”

 We hope to continue working with Shira over the next few years and provide her support until she receives her high school diploma, completes her army service and obtains an academic degree that will allow her to fulfill her dream, to become a scientist in the field of nutrition!

 This is just one of the many lives your donations are helping to change.

 Thank you once again for your ongoing support that is helping to change the world.

Eric Goldberg-Head of the Board of Directors

Ariela Foundation

Links:

• Thank you video from Alamork to Ariela
• Ariela on Facebook
• Ariela Website