Ten years ago, UJA-Federation of New York, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and top Israeli officials collaborated to launch Ashalim, a nonprofit organization in Israel that plans and develops services for more than 350,000 children and youth, and their families. Ashalim plans activities aimed to increase community and family support for at-risk youth, providing them with the best treatment and care. By introducing alterative approaches to helping children and their families integrate into society, Ashalim prevents children from falling into dangerous situations. Ashalim adopted the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship's (NFTE) model and implemented a youth-entrepreneurship program in Israel to help youth develop life skills. Sisat Igzao is an Ethiopian Jew who received an NFTE award this past year, changing his life dramatically and placing him on the road to success.

First Steps in Business

Eighteen-year-old Sisat Igzao, the youngest of five children, immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia when he was 3. Growing up in Israel was very challenging for him. He had trouble finding himself, whether it be in school, with family, or with friends. At 16, he attempted to join the workforce, but he still had trouble finding his place in the world. One day, he was introduced to HILA, a high-school-equivalency program run through his city's dropout prevention and youth advancement unit. There, Sisat was lucky to meet Orna, a counselor who she suggested that, in addition to completing his full-time studies, Sisat also consider participating in a business initiative run through the nonprofit organization Galshan, which operates a business venture for youth in Ashdod in collaboration with Ashalim. Sisat was interviewed and accepted at Galshan, and through his participation in the business-venture program, he had the opportunity to study entrepreneurship, sales, and marketing at the College for Management. During his studies, he began to work in sales and publicity for the billboard business.

In May 2007, Sisat, along with others in youth-run business ventures around the country, participated in BizCamp, a weeklong business camp in Jerusalem sponsored by NFTE, Ashalim, and First International Bank in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Matan. At BizCamp, participants were taught how to get a business started, opening up to them the world of business. Sisat prepared a business plan for a music club and won first place in BizCamp's competition. This past April, he was flown to NFTE's annual event in New York to present his idea, where he received an award for his plan.

In His Own Words

"Before I was introduced to the youth business project, I was introverted and never thought that I could ever make it in the business world, since I didn't believe in myself," says Sisat. "I know that had it not been for this program, I would be in a very different place. Today, my outlook is a long-term one, not just focusing on here and now. […] I hope that in the future I will open my dream business."

Read about the Ashalim Professional Exchange, which sent 13 mental-health and community service professionals from UJA-Federation of New York's beneficiary agencies on a five-day visit to learn from and share their expertise with professionals in Israel from Ashalim and the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), both supported by UJA-Federation.