Category: News
2026 Commencement Address from a Jaffa Alumna
Recently, one of the Jaffa Institute graduates was invited to speak at a celebration marking the conclusion of the 2026 Academic Enrichment Program.
Her story reminds us that the true impact of the Jaffa Institute is not measured only by the thousands of children and families that are served each year, but by the individual lives that are transformed over time.
Good evening, everyone,
First and foremost, thank you for the invitation and for the tremendous honor of standing here today to speak on behalf of the alumni of this remarkable program.
If someone had told me more than ten years ago, when I was a fifth or sixth-grade student arriving here after a long school day, that one day I would return to stand before you as an alumna representing this program, I probably would not have believed them.
When I was asked to speak on behalf of the alumni, my thoughts immediately returned to those early days. I first came to the program to receive academic support, particularly in English. At the time, I had no idea how profoundly this place would shape my life. Looking back now, I realize it was far more than a place to study.
For many people, private tutoring is something they take for granted. But for many families—especially in the neighborhood where I grew up—it simply is not an option. This program provides children with access to quality academic support at an affordable cost, but even more importantly, it gives them something priceless: the feeling that someone believes in them and genuinely wants to see them succeed.
I especially remember my English lessons. They helped me academically, but beyond the material I learned, they gave me confidence. They made me believe that I could improve, succeed, and continue moving forward.
Today, as an adult, I understand that the impact of this program extended far beyond grades and test scores. It gave children real opportunities, and years later its influence is still evident. Sometimes, all a child needs is for someone to truly see them, believe in them, and provide them with the tools they need to move forward.
As my journey continued, I graduated from high school with a full matriculation certificate, including five-unit honors in both English and Mathematics, earning a high academic average. I know this path was not built in a single day, nor was it the result of one person alone. It was made possible by my family, the teachers who guided me, and everyone who chose to invest in me along the way. This program was one of those places that gave me knowledge, encouragement, and confidence in myself, and for that I will always be deeply grateful.
Looking back on my journey, I understand just how important it is to invest in children from a young age. Sometimes, what seems like a small investment in the moment becomes a defining milestone in a person’s life.
So today, I simply want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who established this program, to those who continue to lead it, to the teachers, volunteers, donors, and to every individual who chooses to invest in children and in the community. Your work goes far beyond helping a child earn a better grade. Every single day, you provide children with knowledge, confidence, belief in themselves, and a genuine opportunity to succeed.
I would also like to say a few words to the children and parents who are here this evening.
To the children: Believe in yourselves. Even if a subject feels difficult, even if at times you think you are not good enough—never give up. Every lesson, every effort, and every small step you take today can open doors for your future. I once sat exactly where you are sitting today, and I never imagined that one day I would stand here and share my story.
To the parents: Thank you for choosing to invest in your children and for encouraging them to learn and grow. Your support, together with the work of this program, gives them a strong foundation to believe in themselves and to aim high.
Among the children sitting here tonight may very well be tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, teachers, officers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Sometimes, all it takes to help them reach their potential is someone who believes in them at the right moment, gives them an opportunity, and sees in them what they are not yet able to see in themselves.
My wish for this program is that it will continue to grow, reach many more children, and continue changing lives just as it has done for so many years. And I hope that ten or twenty years from now, more alumni will stand here and share stories like mine—telling how this place became part of their journey, and how the faith of the people who work here helped them fulfill their dreams.
Thank you very much, and thank you for everything you do.