Challenging stigmas to change lives

FOR YOUNG Israelis, their military service is a rite of passage, serving as an introduction to their future career, whether through the skills they learn or the connections they make. Serving in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) opens up the path to high-status jobs in engineering, IT, medicine and many more rewarding civilian careers. But for many young Israeli immigrants, this path is barred.

All too often, young people from countries such as Ethiopia, the former Soviet Union and Brazil, are not able to take advantage of this vital introduction to a productive adult life. Sadly, immigrants serving in the IDF are frequently pushed into menial roles, leaving them at a disadvantage when they leave the military. Even worse, many are not given the option to enlist at all.

Yemin Orde Youth Village, which has been supported by our community since it was founded in 1953 and works with more than 400 at-risk young immigrant youth, recognised this inequity and decided to act. It established the Yemin Orde Mechina, a prearmy leadership programme specifically aimed at young immigrant men and women from marginalised communities. The gap-year course offers a chance to work on personal development, alongside physical training and academic programmes, to help participants enter the military.

The Mechina staff also work to ensure participants are offered the same opportunities within the military as everyone else. The IDF uses a screening score to determine a potential recruit’s placement in the army, which takes into account factors including parental income and education. Unfortunately, this means many Ethiopians cannot achieve more than the minimal score, which would qualify them only to become cooks or secretaries. To change this, staff work directly with the IDF to show them the leadership potential of participants and secure them invitations to placement testing. This has opened up a world of opportunities to young people who would otherwise be consigned to the margins of society.

The programme has swiftly proved its value, with graduates surpassing all expectations, not least those of the IDF. All are enlisting, but disproportionate numbers are rising to become officers and commanders, many serving in elite special forces units, as well as intelligence, combat and engineering. Each year, a number of soldiers from the programme receive commendations for outstanding service.

Of the 800 graduates to date, almost 200 have achieved academic degrees and certificates, with many more currently enrolled in further education, proving the Mechina is changing the future for our young people. But it does more than just change the participants’ lives. By giving these young people the chance to succeed in Israeli society, they serve as inspirational role models for their families, friends and communities. As these graduates excel in their military service and beyond, their outstanding accomplishments help change perceptions and challenge the prejudice that many in Israeli society still hold about young adults from immigrant backgrounds. In this way, they serve as a powerful force for broader societal change.

When you support Youth Aliyah Child Rescue, you are helping to shape the future of Israel, transforming it into a country that values and recognises the potential of every member of society, regardless of their background.

We invite you to join us in changing lives and building a future, for Israel and for all of us.

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