Israel and Taiwan announced a new scholarship program in partnership with Pitchon-Lev this month, aiming to support young women and men from Israel’s lowest socio-economic periphery.
This support is aimed at students from communities who need personal guidance through their academic journey.
The launch of the scholarship is part of the ongoing collaboration between both organizations, reflecting a vision of not only providing assistance but also showing change for these young people for an independent and stable future.
Through the organization’s investment in higher education, the participating students will receive close support throughout three years of study to complete their academic courses without dropping out due to financial struggles.
The scholarship is designed to ease the constant worry about financial constraints during study periods and enable students to build a strong professional profile, leading to stable integration into the labor market.
The program provides a holistic support framework that includes living stipends, personal and professional mentoring throughout the academic year, academic and emotional support, and participation in group and
Pitchon-Lev scholarship supports academic success
Pitchon-Lev defines itself as an apolitical, nonprofit organization established in 1998, focused on breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty in Israel.
The organization primarily focuses on urgent aid, education, empowerment, and strategic social impact through advocacy and legislative change.
Apart from the scholarship, they have Humanitarian Aid Centers to assist thousands of families in need and Rights Utilization Centers that work with applicants to help them learn about and receive all their government benefits.
“Our long-standing partnership with the Taiwan Mission is an integral part of Pitchon-Lev’s ability to work consistently and responsibly toward breaking the cycle of poverty in Israel," Eli Cohen, CEO of Pitchon-Lev, said.
"The scholarship we are launching is designed to enable young people from the periphery to persevere in their studies over time, acquire a profession, and advance toward economic independence."
Taiwan was among the early countries to support Israel after the events of October 7. Since then, the Taiwan Mission has worked in cooperation with local authorities and organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need.
"I thank the Taiwan Mission for its trust, continued commitment, and decision to invest in young men and women at a critical stage in their lives,” Cohen added.
“Taiwanese society places great importance on the values of compassion and collective responsibility,” said Abby Ya-Ping Lee, Taiwan’s Head of Mission to Israel.
“Following our first significant educational initiative in partnership with Pitchon-Lev, the Taiwan Empowerment Initiative, which provided full scholarships to 40 at-risk young people across Israel and enabled them to continue their studies and realize their full potential, we are pleased to launch this new program.”
As part of the launch, a scholarship was awarded to Oved Levi, a student in the construction engineering technician program at Sapir College’s Jerusalem campus.
Levi comes from a limited household income, primarily supported by his mother, a daycare center worker, and has had to cope with his father's serious illness. In addition, Levi suffers from a neurological injury to his leg from an accident.
Despite the challenges, Levi works to support his family and persevere with his studies. The scholarship awarded to him, totalling approximately NIS 23,000, will assist him in completing a three-year academic program and progress toward economic independence, employment stability, and the ability to better support his family.
“The scholarship I received has significantly reduced the financial burden, allowed me to cut back on work alongside my studies, and focus on the training itself,” Levi disclosed.
“The stability and support it provides create real space for success. It is deeply moving to know that someone believes in me, recognizes the effort, and gives me an equal opportunity to succeed.”