Bringing 2020 to a Close...
Needless to say, the past year has been a challenging one. Yet, it has also been one of innovation and perseverance. While PIP joins many others in feeling the strain of COVID-19, we have also experienced growth in the form of new programming, and we have seen how our community can come together to overcome challenges.
Read on to learn about the many virtual workshops PIP has held, the internships that have continued to be successful, and the launch of our own Mentorship Program!
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Cycle 11, being the 'Corona Cycle', has been largely virtual - with all meetups and workshops taking place via video conferencing. Our most notable workshops have included a Professional Communication session with Eyal Dekel, Product Manager at Vimeo. Participants worked together to develop their problem solving skills and communication skills, learning how best to work as part of a team.
Mohenad Itayim, of Oculus Ventures, led an exceptional session on post-interview best practices, running through how participants can follow up after an interview, how to engage with HR, and what tactics are most effective in the job hunt.
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Finally, a highlight of the Cycle so far has been the virtual Hackathon, which brought together nearly 100 participants from both PIP and TAMID. The Hackathon was 'hosted' by Microsoft, and led by Ari Bornstein. Read more about the exciting event here. |
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In Late Summer, the PIP team received some sad news. One of our exceptional alumni, Dana, was hit by a car while jogging in Ramallah, and tragically died of her injuries several days later.
An Electrical Engineering graduate, Dana had completed her internship, and then been hired, at a Jerusalem-based medical device startup. Alongside work, she was involved in many programs and projects - including completing the Mediation Workshop at Tel Aviv University, working on her own venture with 5050 Startups, and planning her next steps with a Masters in BioEngineering.
She was an inspiration not only to the PIP staff and her fellow Interns, but to every person she worked with. She will be missed, and it is our hope that her legacy of hard work, compassion, and ambition will continue to inspire all those who come after her.
The PIP Family sends our condolences to her family, and prays that her soul finds peace.
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Internship Updates
While it has been a challenge to place new interns with lockdowns and quarantines, PIPers have continued to thrive! We're proud to welcome
Alpha Omega and Amal to the PIP Host Company Network with their new interns, and excited to report on the ongoing success of Cycle 10 internships at SciPlay, Cisco, and GGtude!
Continue to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and in our Newsletters to stay up to date on how we are doing!
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COMPANIES: Join the new cycle and hire your intern. |
We're always looking for new companies to join the PIP Network. Get started on hiring your next PIP intern and see what all the excitement is about!
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Alumni Spotlight: Hanin A. |
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Hanin, from Jerusalem, completed her internship with SciPlay. She reflects on her experience: "PIP has literally changed my life. I was a graduate that couldn't find good opportunities for work. I had many skills, but none were taken into consideration since most companies always ask for long term experience - which is absolutely impossible for a fresh graduate.
And then came PIP, an amazing program with amazing people. They helped me prepare for the job I wanted with workshops and trainings. And then I interviewed with SciPlay as an E-marketing intern.
It has been the best work experience I have ever had, with amazing people and work environment. Everyone has been supportive and positive. I have since finished my internship there, and am now a full-time employee."
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Palestinian Mentorship Program (PMP) |
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It's Official: The Palestinian Mentorship Program (PMP) has Launched! |
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To broaden our impact, PIP has launched a pilot cycle of a mentorship program, to connect some of the leading senior tech professionals in Palestine with (online) mentors abroad who have relevant industry experience. The hope is that this will further expose the Palestinian tech sector to international know-how and partners, and thereby contribute to the success of this important sector.
Under the direction of PMP Director Ari Gore, the program has hit the ground running! Ari has worked to shape PMP to best serve the needs and interests of its inspiring Mentees. His experience in private sector empowerment and strategic relationship development has helped to create a program with lasting effects.
PMP's Pilot Cycle officially launched in September with 12 exceptional Palestinian entrepreneurs and high-tech executives. From Adel Jodalah, Co-Founder of Radix Technologies, a software outsourcing company based in Nablus, to a Ramallah-based startup disrupting the construction industry by connecting workers with contractors - our pioneer cohort is truly exceptional!
The last two months included professional orientation workshops hosted by Dori Sella, a kick-off event with our Executive Mentor Pool, a pairing process to find the right fit for each Mentee, and one-on-one sessions between our Mentees and their Mentors focused on goal and KPI setting.
Our Executive Mentorship Pool is just as exceptional as our Mentees - we have over 40 industry experts from around the world, including Silicon Valley, New York City, Europe, Asia, Israel, and the Gulf. Their diverse backgrounds run the gamut from successful startups to multinational corporations, including:
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Mentor & Mentee Spotlight |
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Noga Halperin Sher is the Global Chief Marketing Officer at SciPlay, providing creative and strategic leadership in the development of new marketing tools and channels for the company. Her marketing experience spans over two decades and she holds deep expertise in the competitive and dynamic nature of the gaming industry. Prior to joining Scientific Games in 2015, Noga served at Playtika as Director of Marketing in charge of Playtika’s flagship game. Noga holds a B.A. in Psychology and Management and an M.B.A. in Marketing from The Interdisciplinary Center.
Noga is excited to be a Mentor for PMP and is looking forward to sharing the knowledge she gained over the years with a new generation coming from a different background and ecosystem.
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Reem Suleiman recently began a new position as the Head of Marketing at FootHill Technology Solutions, a software house based in Nablus. Reem is helping penetrate new markets, including Israel and Europe. Reem has a BA in Marketing and Management from the University of Sharjah (UAE) and is currently in the process of completing her MBA. She began her professional career at PWC Middle East in Dubai, and more recently worked at ASAL Technologies as a Business Development Officer.
Reem is excited to be a part of PMP as it gives her guidance and growth to reach her fullest potential. Reem's Mentor, Noga, will be helping her structure marketing and business strategy as she grows into her new role at FootHill.
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Interested in joining the program as a Mentor?
Want to register yourself or one of your employees to be a Mentee? Sign up below!
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We are looking for new sources of funding to join our current sponsors. |
For more information on how you can support PIP's growth, please contact
Anna Gol. Your support will go towards the following:
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Managing the Palestinian Mentorship Program within PIP
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Growing our Host Company Network, to increase opportunities for intern placement
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Soft Skills Training Workshops, including CV building, interview skills, public speaking skills, and networking
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Professional Development programming, including supporting our Finalists during their training with organizations like Dale Carnegie
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Networking Events, where interns and alumni will be able to hear from and meet with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders in tech, business, and finance, further expanding their own professional networks
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Our 2019 Impact Report is live!
The report includes unique testimonials from our Interns, Company experiences, and an overview of the past year's success. Click below to check it out.
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Other ways you can support PIP:
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Amazon users can support PIP at no extra cost when you make purchases through the "Smile" program. (Amazon will donate 0.5% of the cost of your purchases, to PIP.) Click here and select "Palestinian Internship Program" as the organization to support.
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Host families: please let us know if you are interested in hosting an intern for the three-month period they are interning in the Haifa, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem areas.
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PIP's Facebook page continues to grow rapidly, now with over 3,000 likes........ Check it out – and ‘like’ us if you haven’t already!
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“Content volunteers” help PIP with a workshop, talk, company visit or other professional development activity for interns. Are you or someone you know available for this opportunity?
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Donations help fund PIP’s activities: PIP is seeking further funds to ensure the continuation of its activities throughout 2020 and beyond. Please click on the donation button below, or write to us if you would like to make a contribution or refer us to potential funding sources.
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Thank you for your continued support of Palestinian Internship Program!
We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events. You can get in touch by clicking ‘reply’ or emailing anna@palinternship.com. Please forward or share our newsletter with friends and colleagues who might be interested in learning more about PIP.
All the best,
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Yadin Kaufmann
Founder & Chairman
PIP
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Anna Gol
Program Director
PIP
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About PIP
Palestinian Internship Program is a groundbreaking not-for-profit that arranges internships and professional development activities for top Palestinian graduates from the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the Israeli and Palestinian high-tech sectors. Founded by Yadin Kaufmann in 2014, PIP has so far run 10 highly successful internship rounds and has a total of 72 alumni who have interned at over 40 partner companies including Google, Intel, HP, Teva, and Thomson Reuters, as well as a number of startups and VC funds. PIP is a US-registered 501(c)(3) and has so far been backed by donors including the US State Department and USAID. See www.palinternship.com for more information.
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