Orot Israel College Students Awarded For Serving as Youth Mentors

by Nati Fried – Dean of Students, 
Orot Israel College, Rechovot Campus 

Two talented Orot Israel College students were recently recognized for their work as student mentors in the Perach National Mentoring Program during the 5772 school year. On Chanukah, second-year student Ezra Avraham received the country’s top prize at a gala ceremony at Yerushalayim’s Begin House, and third-year student Oshri Cohen received an award for his efforts in the central region at Bar Ilan University. 

Perach has had an active presence at Orot's Rechovot campus for the past twenty five years. Nearly 60% of our fulltime students participate in this important program, which helps prepare them for careers in education.

Ezra Avraham, who is currently serving in the IDF as part of his studies at Yeshivat Hesder Orot Yaakov, spent last year mentoring a third grader, who was faced with various educational and social challenges. Initially, Ezra focused on helping the boy with his homework and playing soccer with him. However, after consulting with Perach’s professional staff, Ezra was able to expand his focus to education and teaching life skills. 

By the end of the year, Ezra’s young charge had undergone a dramatic change. Not only was he able to open up and moderate his behavior, but he had acquired new skills and interests. Moreover, the Perach coordinator stated that over the course of the year, Ezra himself had developed into a mature and more assertive young man. In fact, Ezra added that serving as a mentor had helped him learn more about himself and his own personality. 

Oshri Cohen, who is of Ethiopian descent, spent last year mentoring a bright, motivated boy from a lower socioeconomic neighborhood. Over the course of the year, Oshri helped the boy with his schoolwork, exposed him to new and positive interests, and encouraged him to make new friends. Throughout the process, Oshri maintained close contact with the boy’s homeroom teacher and parents, who were greatly appreciative of Oshri’s efforts. 

Fittingly, the award citation referred to Oshri as “a mentor with the soul of an educator” and as “an excellent role model.”