Home / Rights & Programs / Aharai! — Pre-Army Leadership Program
Aharai! — Pre-Army Leadership Program in Haifa
Leadership program for youth 14-19 pre-draft. Provides life skills, career path, and aim toward a worthy military role. Strong collaboration with the Ethiopian-Israeli community.
About Haifa
Haifa is home to an established Israeli-Ethiopian community, spread across multiple neighbourhoods in the city. The local real-estate market offers a range of housing options — from modern projects in the Carmel area to neighbourhoods with urban-renewal potential in the eastern part of the city.
What the program includes
- Weekly workshops: group dialogue, leadership, values, future planning
- Officer tracks: prep for IDF officer school — exams, interviews, psycho-technical
- Career paths: matching to IDF roles by talent (tech, intelligence, command)
- Personal mentor: each participant assigned a personal mentor for the whole process
- Community: belonging to a multi-city group of leading youth
Who is eligible?
- Youth 14-19 (high school, in some tracks ages 12+)
- Motivation to contribute (academic excellence not required)
- Community-engaged — interested in leadership within the community alongside IDF
How to join
- Registration: aharai.org.il → "Join"
- Interview: personal + group
- Trial period: 1-2 months
- Participation: usually 1-2 times per week + weekend events
Bonus value: alumni network of commanders, tech professionals, and social activists. Meaningful community connections.
Ethiopian community in Haifa
- Community population
- ~10,000
- Share of city
- ~4%
- Main neighbourhoods
- כרמל הצרפתי, הדר, כרמליה
- Community services
- ENP חיפה, בית הספר לקהילה
More rights in Haifa
This right in other cities
FAQ — Haifa
- How many Ethiopian-Israelis live in Haifa?
- The Ethiopian-Israeli community in Haifa numbers approximately ~10,000 residents — around ~4% of the city's population. Main neighbourhoods: כרמל הצרפתי, הדר, כרמליה.
- How do I claim Aharai! — Pre-Army Leadership Program in Haifa?
- Apply via the relevant government body in Haifa. For support: ENP חיפה, בית הספר לקהילה.
- What community support is available in Haifa for this right?
- In Haifa, the following organisations can assist with paperwork, translation and entitlement: ENP חיפה, בית הספר לקהילה.
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