Vocational Training Course for Ethiopian Israelis

Demuza: from Cleaner to Creator

Demuza was born in a small village in Gondar, in Northern Ethiopia. As part of his preparations to emigrate to Israel, Demuza and his family moved to the capital of Addis Ababa; the family waited there for six long years. During that time, Demuza got married, and supported himself and his family with crafts and embroidery. In 2002, Demuza finally made Aliyah, and came to Israel with his wife and their young daughter.

Demuza and his wife started out in the absorption center outside Jerusalem, before moving to an apartment in one of the capital’s low-income neighborhoods. During his time at the absorption center, Demuza went through an intensive Hebrew language cours, and got work as a cleaner. Even after leaving the absorption center, Demuza continued to work as a cleaner - but he dreamed of learning a trade. In Ethiopia, Demuza never had the opportunity to study, but he had a passion for learning. He began to search for courses that would help him progress professionally.

One day, Demuza turned to his community center, and was told to apply to The Megemeria School of Jewelry. When he found out that he was accepted, Demuza was ecstatic - his dream was coming true: he was going to learn a trade. Despite the language barriers and his lack of formal education, Demuza excelled in his studies.

“Thanks to YEDID and to Orna and Itzik of YVEL, I’m creating new things, and enjoying every minute of my work. Megemeria has changed me for the better. I’ve become empowered from my work, from the knowledge gained, and from the satisfaction I derive from my creations. My family is so proud of me - I shared what I learned with my children, and they helped me prepare for my Ministry Accreditation exam. They are so happy that I am an artist and craftsman and that I no longer have to work as a cleaner. Today, I tell everyone I know - go study, better yourselves. And I tell my children the same thing: invest in your studies, it will pay off.”

Megemeria would not be possible without the generosity of donors like you – every dollar you donated helps Demuza and the 43 other graduates of Megemeria gain the skills, confidence, and knowledge that they need to become self-sufficient workers, who take pride in their creative work and support their families with dignity.

On behalf of YEDID's staff and the students and graduates from Megemeria, I thank our supporters for their partnership. Without help like yours, 44 talented individuals would not have had the chance to embark on the path to a brighter future. Thank you so much!