Though he was 12 years old at the time he came to live in an EMUNAH Children’s Home six years ago, David could not read or write. After much hard work and support, David has just graduated from high school with full credits and honors! Now, with great pride and joy he will be entering a pre-army preparatory program before joining the IDF later this year.
“I was afraid that everyone would think I was stupid when I first came to live at EMUNAH. I used to make trouble at school and be thrown out of the classroom, so nobody would realize that I couldn’t read or write. I would get into fights and be difficult – and all the time I was covering up for the fact that I was embarrassed. At first it was hard for me to make friends because I pushed other people away. The staff at EMUNAH knew that my family situation had been bad. My father had left home and my mother drank too much so she didn’t really take care of me at all. They soon realized that I was covering up my problems. My counselor arranged for a tutor to help me catch up on all the classes I had missed over many years. They never gave up on me. Slowly I let people get closer and began to trust people and to make friends. It wasn’t easy and it took a long time until I realized I was actually able to keep up with my peers. It felt incredible to succeed and I learned that if I worked hard I could achieve so much. Graduating this year was really something I never imagined would ever happen to me! EMUNAH has given me everything, friends for life and the support I needed to learn to believe in myself.”
