Dr. Nigist Mengesha, the Ethiopian National Project‘s (ENP) long-time, and highly effective, Director-General has announced she will be stepping down in January:

October 11, 2010

Just over seven years ago, I was bestowed the honor of helping to plant the seed that today is the Ethiopian National Project. Since June 2003, I have been privileged to lead this partnership between Diaspora Jewry, the Government of Israel and the Ethiopian-Israeli community as ENP’s Director-General. In January 2005, I experienced the excitement of launching this “dream on paper” in the field. Within just two years of that launch, I witnessed a phenomenon operating in 27 cities, reaching nearly one of every two of Israel ’s 16,000 Ethiopian-Israeli teenagers.

Today, I read with pride the outcomes and the impact of ENP’s work, view with pleasure the inculcation of its methodologies and hear from multitudes- mayors, principals, teachers, parents and children alike- that ENP is making an indisputable, lasting impact on the future of each Ethiopian-Israeli youngster being touched by ENP’s programs.

Indeed, the Ethiopian National Project is granting the Ethiopian-Israeli community a brighter future and is making a lasting imprint throughout Israel , thanks to you. I am humbled by its achievements.

Together, we have nurtured ENP from seed to sapling. Now, ENP has just begun to bear fruit. We must continue to nurture ENP to ensure its fruit will be plentiful and last for generations.

It is thus time to make way for additional leadership to spearhead this shared effort. And so, I will formally conclude my role as Director-General of ENP In January 2011. Yet ENP’s work is far from over. Therefore I am committed to accompanying ENP in a lay capacity so as to ensure that Diaspora Jewry, my community and the Government of Israel build upon the success that is ENP. I will share news of the decision of the Directorial Selection Committee, comprised of ENP’s partners, once ENP’s new Director-General is selected.

… Together we can realize the dream of the Jewish people by enabling the success of the Ethiopian-Israeli community. Thank you again for your part in helping ENP to achieve this goal.

With great respect,

Dr. Nigist Mengesha

about: ENP is a partnership between the Jewish Federations of North America, the Government of Israel, representatives of Ethiopian Jewish Community Organizations, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Israel (JDC-Israel) and Keren Hayesod-UIA.