PhD in Political Science, Tel Aviv University

My name is Mehretu Yosef, I made aliyah in 1983, alone, at the age of 27. I came as part of a special group of young people who were brought here from Ethiopia to study.  When I arrived, I first lived in Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem where I began to learn Hebrew and to acclimate to the country. After completing ulpan, I moved to Tel Aviv where I began my BA in English and Political Science at Tel Aviv University.  I have always loved to study; It is an integral part of my personality.  From a very young age, I loved to read and I always loved to learn. In Ethiopia, I had several teachers from America, and because of them I fell in love with the English language, and I knew that I wanted to continue to learn.  When I completed my BA, it was clear to me that I must continue in academia, but unlike during my first degree when I received assistance from the government, now I needed to look to other organizations to help me with the financial burden. Friends of mine told me about Keren Hanan Aynor, and when I turned to them, they agreed to help me with a scholarship for my MA without any conditions or burdensome bureaucracy. There are simply not enough words to express how much this assistance helped me.  Keren Hanan Aynor supported me throughout my MA, and has continued to give me support in order to complete my dream of acquiring a doctorate degree. Without the assistance which I receive from Keren Hanan Aynor, I would not be able to complete my studies. The scholarship helps me tremendously with all of my living expenses while in school.  Financial help is very significant for an Ethiopian student, and Keren Hanan Aynor is one of the only organizations providing this sort of assistance for MA and PhD degrees.  To give hope is a huge thing, and this is what Keren Hanan Aynor does for Ethiopian students.