What’s the first image that comes to your mind when someone mentions Israel? If you’re like most people, you can already visualize a flourishing startup landscape with plenty of employment opportunities for young talent.
But beyond the thriving socioeconomic center, a large section of people continue to struggle in the Israeli periphery. Nearly 2 million people in Israel, half of them children, live in poverty. To say that survival is a daily battle for these young people would be an understatement.
While Israel continues to hit the headlines with cutting-edge tech innovations, the socioeconomic disparity doesn’t garner any limelight. Millions of students in the Israeli periphery continue to fight for basic resources, such as access to school supplies, computers, and internet connectivity.
Creating Equal Opportunities: Eyal Edry, Moshe Edree, Refael Edry’s Endeavors
Eyal Edry is a successful businessman who runs several companies in Africa with his brothers, Moshe Edree and Refael aka Rafi Edry. A former paratrooper, he has garnered worldwide acclaim for his entrepreneurial initiatives.
But despite all his professional accomplishments, Eyal Edry relates to the pain of a deprived childhood. He was only 17-years-old when his family was under extreme financial hardship. His father’s earnings as a contractor weren’t enough to make ends meet.
It left Eyal Edry with no choice but to abandon his dreams of going to college and bagging a stellar job offer. That happened in the 1970s.
Five decades later, Eyal Edry, Moshe Edree, and Refael Edry have resolved to help children from low-income households find their footing in Israeli society. And that has led them to establish the Ahinoam Association for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities.
Through the organization, Eyal Edry, Moshe Edree, and Refael Edry have launched several welfare programs to nurture and support children and adolescents in the Israeli periphery.
The Ahinoam Association runs a long-term mentoring program to identify at-risk youth and facilitate their integration into the job market. The organization has also launched a scholarship program to help students from low-income families pursue their education.
During the pandemic, Eyal Edry and his brothers launched a fundraising campaign to provide computers to students in the periphery. Their efforts have helped more than 30,000 join online classes and continue learning despite school closures.
Understanding the Role of LinkedIn
While social welfare organizations, like the Ahinoam Association, provide the youth with better opportunities, the onus is on these individuals to take charge of their professional growth. In today’s fiercely competitive job market, it’s become more important than ever to build the right professional connections.
LinkedIn, being the hub of professional networking in today’s world, has the potential to help the Israeli youth enhance their career prospects. With more than 810 million members and 57 million registered companies, LinkedIn is a notch above online job portals.
Worldwide Employment Opportunities
LinkedIn can provide the Israeli youth with access to job opportunities from across the globe. As more companies adopt hybrid working models, youngsters from Israel’s periphery can apply for jobs in foreign countries without worrying about relocation costs.
While the Ahinoam Association will work with the youth to build their skills and acumen, LinkedIn will help widen their horizon of opportunities. They don’t have to restrict their aspirations to jobs available in their country.
Fostering Long-Term Professional Relationships
Also, it’s worth noting that LinkedIn’s member community includes a plethora of senior-level decision-makers from top-rated companies. The Israeli youth can use the platform to connect with C-suite executives and senior professionals from various companies.
That, in turn, helps them become a part of a global professional community that’s eager to support each other. It gives them access to exclusive job openings that aren’t advertised on other portals. Also, they get to interact with and learn from industry experts and thoughts leaders.
Effective Skill Development
Apart from professional networking opportunities, LinkedIn also offers a wide array of online courses. From digital marketing and web programming to communication and strategic decision-making – the Israeli youth can join a variety of courses to further improve their skills and climb greater heights in their career.
Building an Equal World
Eyal Edry, Moshe Edree, and Refael Edry don’t want any child in Israel to give up their dreams of creating a better life for themselves. While their organization continues to support and guide the Israeli youth, it’s important for the youngsters to develop their personal brand and professional network using LinkedIn.