
Tech-Career Newsletter Pesach 2026

From the Desk of Takele Mekonen
Dear Friends and Partners,
In these challenging days of war, it feels more important than ever to share the work that continues at Tech-Career. Even in times of uncertainty, our programs move forward with energy and purpose.
We remain dedicated to preparing the next generation of Israel’s high-tech workforce, an effort that is increasingly vital as Israel’s technological leadership continues to shape the country’s future.
Our training programs continue to evolve in response to industry needs, with a strong focus on cybersecurity, network administration, automation testing, and data analysis. Across all courses, students gain practical tools to work with artificial intelligence (AI), an innovation that is rapidly transforming the technology landscape. This year, we continued our commitment to equal opportunity through dedicated programs for women and retraining tracks for academic graduates seeking to enter the tech sector.
This year marks an important milestone: the launch and successful completion of the first course at our new Northern Branch. The inaugural network administration and information security program in Kiryat Yam concluded with its first graduating cohort, and already six graduates have secured positions in the field. Building on this success, a new cohort focusing on software testing will soon begin in Haifa.
We have also submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Labor to expand the participation of Ethiopian Israelis in the high-tech industry, an initiative that could significantly broaden our impact if selected.
Meanwhile, construction of Tech-Career’s new campus in Lod is advancing at an exciting pace. Watching the classrooms, dormitories, and offices take shape - transforming a long-held vision into reality - is truly inspiring. The campus is expected to open in early 2027, and we look forward to welcoming students there.
To our dear donors and partners - thank you for your trust, partnership, and generosity. Thanks to you, we are creating meaningful change in the lives of young Ethiopian Israeli men and women, strengthening an entire community, and contributing to Israeli society as a whole.
May we soon see days of peace and quiet ahead.
Happy Passover,
Takele Mekonen
Recruitment: Strong Demand for Tech-Career Programs
Demand for Tech-Career’s training programs continues to grow, clearly reflected in this year’s selection process. More than 650 candidates participated in introductory information sessions, 130 computerized assessments were conducted, and approximately 100 personal interviews took place - each tailored to the requirements of specific training tracks. These rigorous processes ensure that every cohort is carefully selected and well matched to the program. This intensive effort reflects both the high demand for Tech-Career’s programs and the organization’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for integration into Israel’s technology sector. Six courses are currently active - four that were underway before the High Holidays, and two that launched afterward. Two additional courses are expected to launch in the coming weeks: a cybersecurity course and a software testing course at Tech-Career’s Northern Branch in Haifa, following Passover. For the first time, Tech-Career initiated a dedicated preparatory program for cybersecurity candidates. The program helps participants strengthen their foundational skills before beginning the training itself, increasing readiness and improving chances of success in this demanding field.
Learning Never Stops: Training Program Highlights
Even amid escalation in the current security situation, our courses continue without interruption. Students have moved to remote learning in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines. For our students, the path forward cannot wait.
DevNet – Class 68 – Northern Branch, Kiryat Yam
This course marked an important milestone as Tech-Career’s first training program in northern Israel. Launched in February 2025 in Kiryat Yam, the program operated in hybrid format and included Cisco's CCNA and CCNP certifications. Despite the disruption of repeated reserve duty call-ups during the war, students successfully completed both certifications after an intensive year of study. Alongside their technical training, participants took part in an extensive career preparation program, including personalized career counseling, CV development, interview preparation, and research into potential employers. They also met with Tech-Career alumni and participated in professional workshops focused on personal development and career readiness. Through Tech-Career’s partnerships with industry leaders, students gained valuable exposure to the technology sector. They participated in professional presentations, mock interviews with senior professionals, and visits to leading companies where they met with engineers, HR teams, and senior executives.



DevNet & Information Security – Class 69
This course opened in June 2025 during a particularly complex security period. Despite two students reporting to reserve duty on the first day, the program moved forward as planned. The remaining 16 students began their studies online before transitioning to in-person learning and residential housing provided by Tech-Career once conditions allowed for it. Participants successfully completed Cisco’s CCNA and CCNP certifications and are now preparing for an additional Fortinet certification. The program also included hands-on technical simulations designed to replicate real workplace environments. Students participated in a comprehensive career development track including CV preparation, interview simulations, and professional workshops, visited leading organizations such as Pelephone, Cognyte, and the Bank of Israel, and presented technical projects at Payoneer. Students also met Tech-Career alumni who serve as informal mentors sharing insights on entering the industry, helping them navigate their first steps in tech, and strengthening their professional readiness, sense of identity, and belonging. Many participants are currently in advanced recruitment processes with companies including Malam, Bynet, and the Bank of Israel. One student has already been recruited to Experis.
QA Automation – Class 70
Launched in September 2025, this course includes 15 students training in software quality assurance and automation. Participants have completed the manual testing phase and are now finishing the automation portion of the program. Throughout the course, students participated in enrichment workshops focused on career readiness, covering LinkedIn networking, time management, and financial literacy. They also completed a full career development track including personal storytelling, professional branding, CV writing, LinkedIn profile development, and interview preparation. Towards the end of the course, students participated in mock interviews with industry professionals to build practical experience and confidence before entering the job market. Tech-Career’s industry partnerships play a key role in this process. Students recently participated in an HR simulation day with BigID, practicing interviews with recruiters, and they presented their final projects at the company. Students also visited Infinidat, where they met QA professionals and gained firsthand insight into real-world industry practices. Students are in recruitment processes in NVIDIA, Ness Technologies, InManage, and Leumi Bank.



Designed for academic graduates, this cohort began in September 2025 in partnership with Upscale Analytics College and AppsFlyer. The program was delivered in a hybrid format combining online learning with in-person training focused on professional practice and career development. Professional recruiters led workshops covering HR and technical interviews, CV writing, LinkedIn optimization, and job search strategies. Toward the end of the course, students met individually with Tech-Career’s placement team to assess career goals and prepare for their first role in the data analytics field. The course concluded in February with a graduation ceremony at AppsFlyer, where students presented their final group projects, developed with the support of industry mentors. Graduates are in recruitment processes with companies including Aidoc, Zim and Abra.
Data Analysis – Class 71
DevNet & Information Security – Class 72
The newest cohort launched in December 2025 with 17 students. Even amid Operation Roaring Lion, participants successfully completed their first professional certification, Cisco's CCNA, with one student set to sit the exam upon returning from reserve duty. Alongside hands-on lab sessions, students have participated in career preparation workshops and personal development sessions covering financial management, time management, and professional branding on LinkedIn. Many of these sessions are led by Tech-Career alumni, offering practical advice and inspiration from those who have walked the same path and successfully entered the tech industry.

Despite the war, a new Cybersecurity course launched on March 23rd with 25 students, including five women. Developed in partnership with IITC College and the Israel Innovation Authority, the course will run via Zoom until they can safely transition to our campus. The course is expected to conclude in November 2026.
Our second Northern Branch QA course - developed in partnership with the Israel Innovation Authority, Qualitest, and Ono Academic College - is now fully enrolled and set to launch on April 12th in Haifa. Following an interview day with team leaders at Qualitest, we received excellent feedback: they noted that we had assembled a strong and talented group. The cohort will include 21 students, six of them women and four currently serving in the reserves. This course marks the continued expansion of Tech-Career's presence in northern Israel.
In addition to these two new courses, Tech-Career plans to launch six more training programs across several high-demand technology fields including network administration, operating systems, Salesforce implementation, and Agentic AI. These programs will run through hybrid learning models as well as residential programs at the Tech-Career campus in Lod.
Adding to this momentum, Tech-Career has submitted a proposal to a Ministry of Labor tender aimed at significantly increasing the number of Ethiopian Israelis entering the high-tech sector and advanced studies each year. If selected this will allow Tech-Career to substantially expand the number of training programs and graduates entering key roles in Israel’s technology industry.
Looking Ahead: Growth & New Training Programs
Beyond Technical Skills: Preparing Students for Careers
At Tech-Career, preparing students for employment goes far beyond technological training. Throughout the program, participants engage in hands-on learning with leading technology companies, bridging classroom learning with real industry experience. Students visit companies such as Check Point, AppsFlyer, BigID, Cognyte, Accenture, Payoneer, Infinidat, the Bank of Israel, Pelephone, and Israel Electric Company, meeting engineers, recruiters, and managers who share insights into daily life in the tech sector. These visits include professional panels, networking sessions, and behind-the-scenes exposure to real IT and development environments.
Alongside the technical curriculum, students complete a comprehensive career preparation track covering CV writing, LinkedIn profile development, interview preparation, networking strategies, and personal branding. In one session led by a Tech-Career alumnus, students learn how to build a LinkedIn presence that attracts recruiters and supports professional networking.
Students also participate in interview simulations hosted by partner companies, experiencing one-on-one HR interviews and receiving detailed feedback from recruiters. Large-scale technical interview simulations bring together dozens of managers and professionals from leading companies, allowing students to practice explaining technical concepts and solving real-world problems under real interview conditions.
Additional workshops address professional life skills including time management, financial literacy, and understanding employment contracts. The financial literacy seminar helps students build personal budgeting strategies and long-term financial planning as they enter the workforce.
Toward the end of each course, students present their final projects at the offices of leading tech companies including companies such as AppsFlyer, Accenture, Payoneer, and BigID, gaining valuable experience explaining their work to panels of industry professionals.
A particularly meaningful element is the involvement of Tech-Career alumni, who return to mentor students and share their journeys - from their first job searches to their current roles in the industry. These encounters offer inspiration, practical advice, and a powerful reminder that a career in the high-tech sector is within reach.




Identity & Belonging: Strong Roots for Future Success
Alongside their professional training, Tech-Career students participate in a dedicated Identity and Belonging Program designed to strengthen their sense of heritage, community, and confidence as they build their careers.
Students take part in meaningful community events, including the national memorial ceremony in Jerusalem for Ethiopian Jews who perished on the journey to Israel through Sudan and a memorial event honoring a fallen Ethiopian Israeli soldier. Students also join the broader Tech-Career community in celebrating the Sigd holiday in Jerusalem, an important holiday in Ethiopian Jewish tradition.
The program also includes workshops and discussions with community leaders, encouraging students to explore their personal stories, connect with their roots, and take pride in their identity. In strengthening this sense of identity and belonging, Tech-Career helps students build the confidence and resilience needed to succeed both professionally and personally.



