13 Years ago an idea was born. The idea was to reconnect the elderly Ethiopian-born emigres together again with the soil. The goal was to remind them of a skill which has been long hidden within them, that has not been able to manifest in their new urban surroundings in Gaderra, but that is nonetheless unique and profound.
In light of the New Year, this past Sunday, we conducted a special night of appreciation for the farmers, program members and program beneficiaries who play a significant role in our endeavors.
Eilao Tashgar, the farmer’s representative, spoke thus: “When I was in Ethiopia I thought that when I would arrive in Israel I’d enjoy a nice plot of land, and then when I finally arrived, I’d look enviously at the farmers and their crops– missing those days when I used to work the land.
This garden program has given me the opportunity to return to working with the soil.” Tashgar’s powerful words provide us with proof that we have succeeded in implementing our idea. It is therefore important to us that we create an opportunity wherein we can give thanks to both the farmers and the program’s participants, without whom none of this could have occured, and present them with a modest gift that symbolizes our deep appreciation of each and every one of them.
We therefore held a small exhibition in our garden, in which photos (taken by the immensely talented Gideon Agaza) of the farmer’s day-to-day activities in the garden were displayed. Each farmer a received a canvassed photo of themselves working in the garden as a gift, and our program partners received a calendar with various photos from the garden, as well as a copy of the book “Pioneers”-- which, among others, features Yuva Tasuma-Katz, the Organization’s CEO.
We would like to thank all those who took part in the event and take part in our endeavors in general. We would like to wish you all a happy new year; a new year filled with cooperation, development and community!
English 
עִבְרִית