Her mother works as a cleaner. Rachel has rather different career expectations. 

Rachel Agama comes from the Ethiopian-Israeli community, in which half of the women work in cleaning or kitchen jobs. These include Rachel’s mother, who brought up Rachel and her three siblings,as a single mother.

The low economic status of Israel’s Ethiopian community stems in
large part from a lack of education. JCT is at the frontline of breaking that cycle, with a specific programme for Ethiopian immigrants, tailor-made for their needs (50% of participants are women). 

As academic difficulties often form an obstacle for students, particularly those from the Haredi, Hassidic and Ethiopian communities, JCT offers pre-academic preparatory course (mechina) for those who need it, as well as reinforcement courses and one-on-one tutoring throughout all years of study. 

Rachel graduated from the nursing programme at JCT’s School of Life & Health Sciences.

Established only five years ago, the first two groups of graduates achieved the highest average score of any Israeli nursing school on the licensing exam, and every graduate received choice job offers from leading hospitals. 

Rachel is currently working as a nurse in internal medicine at Hadassah Hospital, as well as studying for a Master’s degree in nursing, at JCT. 

Rachel says: “JCT changed my life. If it would not be for the opportunity I received to study at JCT I would not be where I am today.”