Internship Program for Arab STEM Graduates

Providing real experiences and opportunities in high-tech for skilled Arabs.

The Challenge

Despite having academic credentials, Arab STEM graduates in East Jerusalem and the Negev (Bedouins) face steep barriers to entering Israel’s high-tech sector, including lack of access to professional networks,cultural and language gaps, workplace exposure, and hands-on experience. Many are trapped in a “junior loop”: no experience, no job; no job, no experience. Internships are rare in Israel, making it even harder to access tech jobs.

According to Globes in May of 2025, only 88 high-tech positions in Israel are available to candidates without prior experience. The demand for junior roles dramatically outweighs the supply, especially outside central Israel, where only 2% of entry-level jobs are available. Without targeted intervention, this talented population remains excluded from one of Israel’s most vital industries.

Our Solution

Our program serves Arabs throughout Israel, with most participants from East Jerusalem and the Negev (Bedouins). This is a structured 6-month track with the following career development components:

 

  • Technical training provided by partner companies before internship placement
  • Soft-skills training, career coaching, and interview prep by itworks coordinators
  • Six-month paid internships hosted and supervised by partner companies
  • Transition to employment from internship with partner companies or through itworks’ placement support

Our Win-Win-Win Approach

We create a powerful model for Israel’s economy, underserved job seekers, and the companies that hire them. This model is truly a game-changer.

For the Israeli Economy

Each year, over $1 billion in tech jobs are outsourced overseas. These are jobs that could stay in Israel and strengthen the local workforce. Our program builds pathways for local talent to enter high-tech, keeping salaries and tax revenues within the country.

For Job Seekers

Our internship program helps talented graduates from East Jerusalem and the Negev break into the tech industry. We connect them to real opportunities, boosting employment, income, and long-term mobility for communities often left behind.

For Employers

We partner with top tech companies and cover the majority of intern salaries for six months, reducing risk and cost. In return, employers gain access to a vetted, motivated pipeline of junior talent they can’t find elsewhere. We also provide DEI training to foster inclusive workplaces and long-term retention.

Our Impact So Far

Since the start of our program in January 2023:

junior positions and internships created through our programs

%

of participants (approximately 96 individuals) successfully completed their internships and were hired as full-time, salaried employees by partner companies

%

of participants (around 7 individuals) were hired directly after completing itworks’ tech and soft skills training, without participating in the internship stage of the program

%

of all participants are women, advancing gender inclusion in the high-tech sector

partner companies actively engaged in the program and participating in DEI training

Help Break the Junior Loop

Thousands of skilled Arab-Israelis graduate with STEM degrees, only to face closed doors. They’re told they need experience to get hired, but can’t gain experience without being hired. There are virtually no entry-level tech roles available, especially outside central Israel. Without targeted support, these talented young people remain locked out of Israel’s most promising sector.

Your donation helps fund paid internships, training, and job placement support. This is the critical first step that makes a career in tech possible.

Give today. Help break the junior loop and open the door to real opportunity.

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