Faces of The Fellowship: Abavitch
The Fellowship | January 31, 2018
“I’ve worked as a dental assistant for the past few years, but I wanted more for myself and my children,” says Abavitch, a 31-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli who lives in Jerusalem with her 14-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. Abavitch was just 16 when she made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) with her family, and she’s worked hard since to become a full, contributing member of Israeli society.
“I’ve always dreamed of being a nurse,” she says. “The problem is that I’m missing a few points from the college matriculation exams. I didn’t know where to turn or how to complete the process.”
Thankfully, someone told her about The Fellowship‘s Azimut, a mentoring programs that helps young immigrants who are struggling financially. “I met with The Fellowship‘s Azimut coordinator, and she asked all kinds of questions about what I wanted from life and how serious I was about achieving my goal.”
Abavitch met with her mentor for an hour each week, receiving career guidance and completing assessments. “My Azimut coordinator wanted to make sure that nursing is a good fit for me,” Abavitch says. “Thankfully, it turns out that it is!”
Together, Abavitch and her mentor found a school where she could finish the matriculation process. “I’m currently in the process of completing that as I get ready to begin my nursing studies.”
Abavitch is quite certain that without The Fellowship‘s mentoring program, she wouldn’t have been able to achieve this great change in her life. “My mentor was my guiding light” she says. “I would have been lost without her. Now I have a real hope for the future that I always dreamed about.
“This program is very important and it helps so many people. I know there are many people like me who want to get ahead in life but don’t have any idea how to go about doing so. This program is making it possible.”
To The Fellowship‘s donors, she says, “Please continue supporting this program, and we’ll talk again when I’ve finished my nursing studies! Thank you!”
Learn how you can help others in need like Abavitch receive life-changing help.