Haifa: Women and Gender
Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, sits majestically on the slopes of Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Known as a model of coexistence, this port city brings together Jewish, Arab, Christian, Muslim, Druze, and Bahá'í communities in daily life and work. The city's terraced gardens, vibrant cultural scene, and industrial heritage create a unique urban landscape.
Volunteering in Israel's Coexistence Capital
As Israel's unofficial capital of coexistence, Haifa offers fellows an exceptional environment to engage with diverse communities and social challenges. The city's strong tradition of tolerance and its mix of university students, working families, and established communities provide rich opportunities for meaningful volunteer work and cultural exchange.
Fellows will live and primarily volunteer in Kiryat Haim, one of Haifa's most underserved neighborhoods
Building Bridges Across Haifa's Communities
Haifa is Israel’s leading and most prominent city in terms of gender equality and LGBTQ+ communal rights.
Meginin School
Meginin School is located in Eastern Kiryat Haim, serving young children in the neighborhood. Ten percent of the students are new immigrants, mainly from Russian-speaking countries and Ethiopia. Our fellows run English classes and, in collaboration with the teachers, build personal connections with the students, to boost their confidence in speaking the language. The fellows initiate innovative English-language projects for the students, such as pen-pal programs or English-themed activity days.
Kidum Noar is a youth-advancement program, that serves as an alternative to high school for at-risk youth unable to integrate into any other educational setting. The participants often come from complex socio-economic backgrounds and face significant learning challenges. The program offers tailored learning methods and provides these adolescents with a supportive path to get back on track. It enables them to complete their studies with a basic SAT certificate and acquire essential social and personal skills required for adult life.
Alef
ALEF is a grassroots organization that supports those with refugee status or no-status. ALEF’s mission is to improve the quality of life for this marginalized population by reducing inequalities in accessing basic services and rights, and works closely with community members to support community-based initiatives. Our fellows assist the organization by creating English-language and child-care programming, as well as teaching tech skils to adults in the community.
El Hayim
El Hayim is a Kiryat Haim community center providing services to welfare children/ youth at risk, families in need and those with PTSD or who are recovering from cancer. They provide fun and innovate activities such as wave surfing, SUP paddling, kayaking, kite surfing and more.
I feel like I received a truly in-depth exploration into Israeli society. I left with a much firmer understanding of those perspectives, and the challenges faced by communities living in Israel, and that is something I value immensely.
