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Volunteering

During each semester, chanichim choose from a broad variety of volunteer options, each providing a unique opportunity to delve into a different aspect of Israeli life. A tremendous amount of initiative and maturity is needed to make the most of volunteer placements. Please note that the Year Course staff reserves the right to place you in the experience they feel you are best suited for based on availability. Volunteer placements give participants the chance to create tremendous relationships with those they are helping and these relationships often remain strong even after Year Course ends. The effort made by the individual chanich dictates the impact he/she has on the community and the relationships he / she develops.

Volunteer placement locations include, but are not limited to:

Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo was founded to establish a zoological collection, and maintain it under optimal living conditions, in an effort to preserve rare animals and species threatened with extinction. Prominently featured in the collection are animals from the Land of Israel, with special emphasis on those species mentioned in the Bible. The Zoo spans over 60 acres and houses lions, tigers, giraffes, rhinoceroses and monkeys, just to name a few. Volunteers help with the day to day running of the zoo: feeding the animals, cleaning the living areas and making unforgettable connections with the zoo visitors and the animals who call it home.

“Fat Meir’s” Soup Kitchen

In Bat Yam, volunteers at “Fat Meir’s” soup kitchen provide hundreds of sandwiches each day to children who “forgot” to bring food from home and serve hot lunches to children who arrive at the kitchen. The kitchen also provides students with facilities to do homework and play with their friends. With the help of some of the best chefs in Israel, Fat Meir’s soup kitchen helps coordinate b’nai mitzvah parties for families who cannot afford the costs and holds cooking classes in order to raise the money they need to continue the work they do on behalf of the children of Bat Yam.

Masada

Volunteers who work in the national Reserve Park of Masada help with excavating, renovating and assisting the professional staff in one of the world’s most famous and exciting Jewish historical and archeological sites. Masada volunteer placements are great for participants who enjoy being outdoors, who are interested in history and archeology and who enjoy physical challenges. Past participants have helped uncover Israeli history, developed strong connections with Masada’s professional staff and even shook hands with a former U.S. president.

Aleh – Working with Special Needs Children

Aleh cares for children with medical conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Many of the Aleh children are learning how to overcome their handicaps and to do the things that other children do: climbing on jungle gyms, splashing in the pool, finger painting, singing and dancing. Others are learning how to eat and get dressed by themselves. Many of Aleh’s children come from families which lack the financial resources or time to adequately care for their disabled child. Year Course volunteers work with these children on a daily basis and help them to develop beyond the boundaries of their prognoses.

Magen David Adom (MADA)

Magen David Adom provides emergency services throughout Israel and works with its volunteers to provide effective first-aid treatment. The volunteer program allows participants to be part of this mission and gain valuable hands-on experience giving first-aid care, while experiencing “real life” in Israel. After completing a week long training course, participants spend two-and-a-half months volunteering on ambulances at a MADA station, side by side with Israeli volunteers and professionals.

Volunteer Placements May Include:

• Achy—The Unity of Israeli Society
• Akim—Care for Israel’s Mentally Disabled
• ALUT—Israeli Society for Autistic Children
• Bet HaLochem—Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans
• Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Israel
• Coordinate after-school athletic programs for children
• Design art projects for senior citizen rehabilitation centers
• Ein Gedi Nature Reserve Park
• Ezer Mizion—A Center for the Sick and Needy
• Fat Meir’s Soup Kitchen in Bat Yam
• Hadassah Hospital
• ILAN—Israel Foundation for Handicapped Children
• Israel Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Biblical Zoo
• Jerusalem Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Magen David Adom
• Masada archeological dig
• Or Shalom Children’s Homes
• Shmora: For a Healthy Environment
• Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
• Tahala: Hotline for those in need
• Teach English at a Bedouin school in the Negev
• Therapeutic Riding Center
• Tolerance Movement for Prevention of Violence in Israel
• Zichron Menachem—Supporting children with cancer

Note: Volunteer options and activities are subject to change.