“Be realistic, but dream big.” This motto from Atidim, an Israeli organization working to expand access to education, became Lior Yehezkias’ lifeline when he faced a difficult choice: pursue a university degree or cover basic living expenses.

The son of Ethiopian immigrants who arrived in Israel during Operation Solomon in 1991, Yehezkias knew his parents had never received a formal education. Still, they strongly encouraged their children to invest in their studies.

“For my parents, education was always an important value and the key to getting ahead,” he said.

After serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Yehezkias was accepted into Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s highly competitive computer science program. But balancing coursework with living expenses became hard.

“I always knew that I wanted to go to university,” said Yehezkias. “The question was how I would afford it.”

Then, he found Atidim.

Supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Atidim is a national organization working to change the face of Israeli society by expanding access to educational opportunities. It serves young people from marginalized and vulnerable populations on the geosocial periphery, offering financial, academic and social support to help students pursue higher education in fields such as engineering and science.

For students like Yehezkias, Atidim — which means “futures” in Hebrew — provides tuition assistance, living expenses, academic counseling, and even soft-skills training and career-readiness workshops to support their university experience. For example, Atidim has been able to serve about 7,000 Israeli teens from underserved communities through their Head Start Program. Head Start provides them with important social and emotional learning skills for army service, college or a high-tech career.

“The people at Atidim are with me every step of the way, helping me overcome every barrier,” shared Yehezkias. “It is a really good feeling to know that someone has my back and won’t let me give up, even when things feel overwhelming.”

In addition to Ethiopian Israelis, Atidim also serves immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Arab-Israelis, Druze, Bedouin, ultra-Orthodox Israelis, injured soldiers and IDF reservists.

“When we give students holistic support, we make sure they have a good education and put them to work,” shared Yoav Maoz, Atidim’s former chief executive officer (CEO). “This is changing lives. For many, they are first-generation college students.”

Ori Brook, Atidim’s current CEO, also shared that the organization does more than provide scholarships or university tuition.

“We support our students through everything,” he said. “We also help IDF soldiers. Even if they miss some courses, we continue to support them and they can go back to their studies at any time. We provide them with psychological support too.”

Right now, sustained mental health is a priority in Israel. Sixty percent of Israelis report acute stress symptoms, according to Israel’s Collective Action for Resilience (ICAR), which has received support from the Jewish Federation.

“We've watched what happens when a driven teenager from Israel's periphery gets a real chance,” said the Jewish Federation’s Israel Program Representative Tamar Brody. “Atidim finds [these students] early and stays with them through IDF selection, university and into a high-tech career.”

The Jewish Federation provides funding to support Israel and global Jewry, which includes mental health services to increase resiliency, such as with Atidim’s programs.

“When the war broke out after Oct. 7, Atidim’s commitment became apparent with their Robophysics program, which is giving children in Kiryat Shmona tools and stability. Potential like this strengthens a whole country,” continued Brody.

In the last three years, the Jewish Federation has provided about $300,000 to Atidim for general operating expenses, emergency funding and the Lehavim Drone Program — which trains high school students to become certified drone operators.

“We always need to make sure we are in the forefront and moving forward,” said Maoz. “Thanks to the support of the Jewish Federation, we can do what we do. Without this partnership, we would not be able to help students become who they want to be.”

Volunteer service is also an integral component of Atidim’s model. Students complete 60 hours of service annually and choose placements that reflect both the community’s needs and their personal passions.

That commitment often continues after graduation, with many Atidim alumni remaining actively involved as volunteers. Yehezkias gives back at an absorption center for Ethiopian immigrants in Be'er Sheva, helping children close educational and social gaps.

According to Maoz and Brook, this creates a culture where each generation invests in the success of the next — a dynamic that Yehezkias has witnessed firsthand. Inspired by Yehezkias’ journey with Atidim, his older brother is now studying computer science with the program's support.

“It is unbelievable to me that there are people investing in Israelis like me and expecting nothing in return except that we succeed and contribute to Israel’s economy and society,” said Yehezkias. “My dream is to find a job where I can wake up every morning, contribute in a meaningful way to my country and help my family.”

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 The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes financial and volunteer resources to care for those in need, support Israel and global Jewry, and secure a vibrant Jewish future — locally and worldwide. You can support this work by making a donation here.