Please help Tuvia Kipgen fulfill his dream to become an Egged bus driver
Tuvia Kipgen
As “Operation Menashe” kicks into full swing, with the aim of bringing nearly 900 Bnei Menashe from India to Israel in the next year (160 have already arrived), one of the biggest challenges for Shavei Israel is identifying appropriate employment opportunities for the new immigrants. One of the fastest growing and increasingly popular professions for the freshly-minted Israelis is working as a bus driver. There are already 10 Bnei Menashe working for Egged (Israel’s national bus network) along with several smaller, local transportation companies.
Tuvia Kipgen has his hopes set on becoming a bus driver as well. He raised the NIS 5,000 ($1,500) he needed to study for and take his theory examination entirely on his own – and he recently passed with flying colors. However, the practical course, where he moves out of the classroom to learn on an actual bus, is much more expensive. And at NIS 20,000 (nearly $6,000), it is beyond the reach of Tuvia’s limited financial resources.
Tuvia is now turning to you for urgent help to take the next steps in improving his professional and economic standing in Israel.
Tuvia is not a part of Operation Menashe himself; he immigrated to Israel from Manipur, India, 15 years ago. However, he has returned to India several times on Shavei Israel’s behalf as an emissary, working with the Bnei Menashe who are now making aliyah. Moreover, Tuvia’s success pursuing a career as a bus driver will highlight this profession as a suitable and attractive one for even more young Bnei Menashe men and women.
Rabbi Hanoch Avitzedek, Shavei Israel’s Director of Bnei Menashe Aliyah and Absorption, says that becoming a bus driver would be an excellent choice for Tuvia and those Bnei Menashe “who are not necessarily university-bound and who are still working on their language skills. And it comes with a very respectable salary and conditions.”
Tuvia’s parents passed away before he made aliyah. He’s not married which, explains Rabbi Avitzedek, is in some ways connected with his drive to drive for Egged. “The Bnei Menashe often delay getting married until they have a stable profession,” he says.
Your generous contribution to Tuvia’s education will, therefore, not only set his financial future in order, but his potential matrimonial one as well! You can make a donation today by visiting the Support page on our website.