Yemin Orde Graduate is Champion Archer; Will Compete in 2013 Maccabiah Games

ROCKVILLE, Md. - July 17, 2013 - PRLog -- Even as a youngster in Ethiopia, Amlekeh Mekonen demonstrated the skills and steady focus of an archery champion. Today, Amlekeh, who recently graduated Yemin Orde Youth Village’s high school, is an internationally-ranked archer who will compete as a member of Israel’s national archery team in the 2013 World Maccabiah Games in Israel.  Yemin Orde Youth Village provides a home, a family and an excellent education to hundreds of at-risk immigrant youth from around the world. Friends of Yemin Orde is the U.S. fundraising arm of Yemin Orde and Yemin Orde Educational Initiatives. Visit www.yeminorde.org more information.

Amlekeh arrived in Israel in 2005 with his large family. The new immigrants struggled with cultural, health and financial obstacles in their new home; daily existence was rife with uncertainty, isolation and poverty. Despite these challenges, one thing was certain: education remained a priority.

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Amelekeh found a safe haven at Yemin Orde Youth Village. The Village is located in the serene Carmel Forest region, south of Haifa. Yemin Orde’s dedicated staff encouraged Amelekeh to study hard and supported his dreams.

Amlekeh continued to sharpen his archery skills while he lived and attended school at the Village. After watching him practice, many of Amlekeh’s peers joined him in this intense and quiet sport. Today, more than 50 kids at the Village participate in this after school extra-curricular program. Amlekeh now teaches other children about archery, too.

“Through archery, my world is expanding. I am thirsty for success and I want to expose this amazing sport to more kids at Yemin Orde,” Amlekeh said. “It makes you strong, clears your head and it gives you a lot of self-confidence.”

After competing in the Maccabiah games, Amlekeh will join the Israel Defense Force, where he hopes to serve in the Israeli Navy. His future career plans include acting and, “of course, more archery competitions.”

The Maccabiah Games are also known as the Jewish Olympics. This year’s events are expected to attract roughly 30,000 spectators and host 9,000 athletes from over 70 countries, making it the largest Maccabiah Games in history.

Fundraising efforts of Friends of Yemin Orde help support the day-to-day expenses for the excellent education and quality care and programs for the children and graduates of Yemin Orde. This includes extra-curricular activities such as recreation (archery, swimming, soccer), uninsured medical treatment (orthodontics), psychological services (therapy) and cultural programs at the Village. Yemin Orde Educational Initiatives is an independent organization created to expand the Yemin Orde educational methodology, called The Village Way, to other youth villages and schools throughout Israel.