For Tali Mekere, aliyah from Ethiopia was accompanied by many challenges, but also by resilience, perseverance, and determination to build a better future.
The transition to a new life in Israel began at the age of five. During their first years in the country, the family lived in an absorption center in Acre, where her younger sister and brother were born, before relocating to Netanya.
The transition to a new life in Israel was accompanied by many challenges, but also by resilience, perseverance, and determination to build a better future.
Adjusting to life in Israel was not easy. Mekere’s parents did not speak Hebrew and worked long hours to make ends meet.
“As the oldest, I took care of my younger siblings and helped my parents bridge the language and cultural gaps. I had a lot of responsibility,” she recalls.
Despite these challenges, Mekere loved learning and invested heavily in her studies, particularly STEM subjects. Her parents encouraged her to succeed in school, and she credits them, her perseverance and determination, and teachers who believed in her as key to her academic excellence.
In high school, she was chosen to participate in a national science enrichment program run by Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science. Mekere graduated from high school in Netanya with honors and an exceptional grade point average. When she was 18, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recognized her academic achievements and recommended that she attend a two-year program to become a practical engineer before beginning her military service.
“The issue of having enough practical engineers is a major concern for the army,” says Mekere.
After completing the program, she was drafted into the Technology Unit of the Intelligence Corps, where she gained valuable professional experience in technology and engineering.
“It was an amazing experience,” she says. “It was challenging, satisfying, and enjoyable at the same time. It was a very significant period in my life.”
Following three years of military service, Mekere knew she wanted to pursue a degree in engineering. She was accepted to the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
However, she was uncertain how she would finance four years of higher education.
“When a friend told me about the Atidim program and I understood the kind of support they would provide, I was so happy,” she says. “Tuition, living expenses, tutoring, academic counseling, guidance, and even a laptop. It was amazing.”
“Knowing that Atidim had my back reduced my stress level completely,” she continues. “I realized I wasn’t alone on this journey. That gave me real confidence that I could succeed.”
As part of the program, participants are encouraged to gain practical experience through student positions in their chosen fields. Mekere secured a position at Elbit Systems, one of Israel’s leading defense technology companies, as a board design engineer.
“I worked there for two years during my junior and senior years, and it gave me the experience I needed to launch my career,” she says.
While at university, Mekere met her future husband, a construction engineer. They married shortly after graduation and settled in Hadera. In 2022, she joined Nvidia, a global leader in artificial intelligence computing.
“I love the company and the work,” she says.
Now the mother of three children, Mekere says the company provides exceptional support for working parents.
“One of the hardest things for me is balancing a career in a demanding hi-tech field with the responsibilities of being a mother,” she shares.
Becoming a role model
Mekere has also served as a role model for her younger sister, who became an electrical engineer, as well as for young Ethiopian-Israeli women considering careers in STEM.
“I want girls, especially in the Ethiopian community, to know that there are so many opportunities available to them and that they have the ability to advance and succeed,” she says.
As a first-generation university graduate and engineer, Mekere often shares a simple message with young people: “There are amazing people who are willing to help. With determination and belief in yourself, anything is possible.”
Today, Mekere looks forward to continuing to advance in her profession and contributing to the cutting-edge technologies being developed in Israel.
Her journey from a young newcomer adjusting to life in a new country with her family, to a successful engineer in Israel’s hi-tech sector reflects the opportunities that education, determination, and support can create.■
Tali Mekere, 34
From Ethiopia to Hadera, 1997