YAHEL SOCIAL CHANGE PROGRAM
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Important Deadlines:
Last few spots available! Accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Program Information: Lod
Program Dates:
September 25, 2017 - June 30, 2018
Service
The core of the Yahel Social Change Program is volunteer work. Participants work side by side with volunteers and staff of local organizations – joining ongoing work in the following projects:
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Non-Profit Work: Work in the field of urban renewal with Jindas, toward the empowerment of Arab-Israeli women with Na’am, or to minimize social gaps through technology with Machshava Tova.
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Academic Assistance: Assist English teachers in a formal school setting as well as working with students in afternoon learning centers.
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Youth Activities: Take part in facilitating recreational and educational activities for at-risk youth in the neighborhood.
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Community Gardening: Work together with local residents in a community garden
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Tutoring: Tutor students in English through various programs.
Learning
The learning component is an integral part of the Yahel Social Change Program and touches on many aspects of the experience.
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Contextual Learning: Participants learn about the complexity of social, religious, economic and other issues faced by residents of Lod and Ramat Eliyahu in particular, and in Israel in general.
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Jewish Learning: Yahel’s Jewish learning curriculum engages participants with some of the core ethical questions related to their service experience. Using both ancient and modern Jewish texts, this component is conducted in a pluralistic setting.
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Cross-cultural training: Facilitates the integration of participants into their host community.
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Participant-led Learning: Allows participants to bring their own interests into learning sessions and gain experience in building and facilitating group learning.
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Reflection: Reflection is essential to the experiential education model and will be facilitated in a variety of formats – individually, in groups, in written form, verbally and silently.
Participants meet with major Israeli change-makers, community members, activists and experts from different fields. In addition, Yahel staff members lead group discussions and support participants’ individual learning throughout the experience.
Immersion
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Community: Throughout the program the participants are based in Lod where they live, learn and volunteer. The relatively small size of the group (10-12 participants) is conducive to the creation of personal ties and enables activities with peer groups.
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Host Families: Participants are paired with host families from the community, who invite them for meals, family events and sometimes holidays.
Walk away from this program with:
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An understanding of multiculturalism and diversity in Israel.
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An understanding of community organizing work.
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Connections to individuals in Israel who are involved in social and environmental change efforts.
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Professional experience relevant to many fields including social work, education, community development and more.
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Inspiration to be an active change maker.
Travels and Seminars
The Yahel Social Change Program includes day trips as well as three seminars and additional weekend trips . These trips are an opportunity to experience Israel off the beaten track, witness social change initiatives around the country, relax, and have fun.
Examples of Trips:
Multicultural Activism Day Trip: Meet changemakers who are promoting multiculturalism in Israel through music, art, education, and Jewish study.
“Community” Seminar in Northern Israel: Explore different concepts of community in Israel through the changing models of the kibbutz movement and homestays in a Druze community.
Environment and Sustainability Issues Day Trip: Meet with activists working to change environmental policy in Israel and learn about sustainable living on an educational farm.
Social Change in the Negev Seminar: Get to know the Negev’s diverse population and learn about activists who are starting social enterprises, working with Ethiopian immigrants on sustainable agricultural projects, and promoting the rights of the Negev’s Bedouin population.
Ethiopian Jerusalem Day Trip: learn about the ancient and modern connections between Ethiopia and Israel and experience the Sigd holiday, an Ethiopian Jewish tradition now celebrated by thousands each year.
Lod and Our Partners
Lod is a mixed Jewish-Arab city, about 15 km Southeast of Tel Aviv. In its diversity, Lod is a microcosm of Israel. While it has many challenges it has also seen a remarkable surge of activism over the last few years which is starting to create real change in the city. Since 2012 a large number of Israeli students and young adults have moved to Lod and are contributing to the development of the city in a variety of ways. There is real need in Lod and there are also social change initiatives which are a great platform for a Yahel program.
In Lod we are partnering with several organizations such as:
Jindas, a Non-Profit Organization for Urban Renewal in Lod, was established in 2011 by members of the “Derech Lod” community. A community of young adults (aged 27- 35) who decided to move to Lod in order to advance social change, improve the quality of life of the city's inhabitants, realize equal rights, and strengthen the dialogue between different communities in the city. Most of the community members take an active part in voluntary activity on a daily basis in the city. Jindas aims to enhance urban regeneration and create and strengthen partnerships between the different communities in Lod with an emphasis on the Arab-Jewish relations. Such processes will bring the city back to its historical status as one of the eminent cities in Israel, a city which offers her residents a high quality of life. See their website here.
"Hatachana" - Lod Young Adult Center: The new young adult center in Lod is a hub for young people in Lod aimed at giving tools, connecting and serving the young population of Lod. The center gives vocational training and career counseling, engages young adults in social action in Lod, organizes cultural and social events, assists young parents, assists with information, guidance and courses for college and more.
Re-Lod: the National Union of Israeli Students has over 200 students living and volunteering in Lod each year and about 60 young adults who have formed a community and decided to stay and live in Lod post-university. You can see a movie about them here.
Additional Details:
Medical Insurance
The Yahel Social Change Program includes medical insurance. The health insurance does not cover pre-existing medical conditions. Medication, whether prescribed or otherwise, is the financial responsibility of the participant. The insurance takes effect on the day the program begins; participants are encouraged to travel to Israel with their own insurance.
Safety and Security
The safety and security of participants of the Yahel Social Change Program is of great importance to us. Yahel is registered with the Society for the Protection of Nature control center (Moked Teva), who operate 24/7 and give us security directives. Additionally, we receive all security alerts posted by the Security Department of Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and its subsidiary company The Israel Experience in real time. The security situation is closely monitored throughout the program and Yahel reserves the right to cancel or change itineraries due to security concerns. Participants should follow safety instructions from Yahel staff at all times. Yahel is not responsible for the safety of the participants during their free weekends.