“I believe in myself. I believe in us, the women.”
Aviva Abebe Yaakov walked all the way from Ethiopia to Israel when she was 6 years old. Today, she is a deputy head nurse at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem!
“I observe myself, that little girl. Observing and never forgetting.
“The same little girl who walked with her parents through the deserts of Sudan when she was 6 years old on the way to Israel. The same little girl is today in a completely different place.
“Back then, I was exposed to harsh sights in the refugee camps in Sudan. There was not a day we didn't bury someone. There were dying children all around us, and mothers who could not care for their children collapsed.
“Arriving in the country for which we yearned was the fulfillment of a great dream. From that point forward, we began to deal with complex and challenging absorption trials and tribulations in Israel. Fortunately, I came from a large family with parents who gave us a lot of love and warmth; I grew through the difficulties.
“Believing in myself and my abilities is the motto that led me then and still guides me. I genuinely think perseverance, faith in oneself, dedication to work and striving for excellence will open doors for you, even if the road is challenging.
“As someone who, throughout our journey, that of my parents and myself, has seen so many people who have lost what is dear to them for the sake of this country. Today as a nurse at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, as a person, as a woman and as a mother, the value of giving leads me because giving to others is a form of acceptance.
“I believe in myself. I believe in us, the women.
“We can lead change in all areas of life, the workplace and different organizations. These places, where a leading female presence is involved, combine excellent work and human compassion for the other.
“Today, as deputy head nurse in the Departments of Plastic Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Ear, Nose, and Throat at Hadassah Ein Kerem, I will never forget the difficulties and how my path began. How much I went through to succeed, advance and achieve, and how much humanity one must meet along the way for this to happen.
“That is how I stay true to myself and my patients.”