Lod

ABOUT LOD

Shared Society

Lod is one of the seven mixed Jewish-Arab cities in Israel, located 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. Community leaders and activists have created community centres, youth programming, and other initiatives to support residents with the help of many volunteers, including students and young adults. There is real need in Lod and there are also social change initiatives which are a great platform for Yahel Fellows.

SAMPLE VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS IN LOD

Volunteer Placements at Schools

The Yahel Social Change Program works closely with various schools in Lod. Yahel participants volunteering at schools assist students with their work during English classes. The work usually takes place with small groups of students outside the classroom, using content material assigned by the teachers. Volunteers are also encouraged to initiate an annual project related to the work they are doing with the students throughout the year. Sample placements in 2019-2020 may include:

Dar El Hikma – Arab high school

Tomashin- Arab middle and high school

ORT- Arab high school

Rambam- Religious Jewish elementary school

LOD FELLOWSHIP SAMPLE ITINERARY

The Abraham Initiatives

The Abraham Initiatives is a non-profit organization that aims to promote equality for Arab citizens of Israel. Their projects focus primarily on education for a shared society, leadership development, community-police relations, and minority mainstreaming in the media. Yahel volunteers work in social media, marketing, research, resource development, grant writing. and donor relations.

"Hatachana"
Lod Young Adult Center

The new young adult center in Lod is a hub for young people aimed at providing tools, connecting, and serving the young population of Lod. The center offers vocational training and career counseling, engages young adults in social action in Lod, organizes cultural and social events, assists young parents, provides guidance and courses for college, and more.

Matnas Chicago

Tesfa

Tesfa is a small house that is for and funded by the Eritrean asylum-seeker community in Lod. Tesfa means “hope” in Tigrinya (the language spoken in Eritrea and at home by most of the students). Eritrean community members are denied access to many municipal and state services and this center offers cultural and community services. Yahel Fellows work with young children in Tesfa to provide a safe environment and teach English to very eager students.

Potchim Atid

Potchim Atid (Opening a Future) is a nationwide program aimed to support children and families living in the social and geographical periphery in Israel. The vision of the program is to provide children and their families with confidence, skills and equal opportunities to grow and realize their own unique potential. The program empowers the children in the personal, family, learning and social realms incorporating many available community resources and encouraging family involvement. Yahel volunteers placed at Potchim Atid will have the opportunity to facilitate group activities for children together with Israeli staff, focusing on life skill building activities.

Tech Career

Tech-Career is an Israeli NGO established by and for Ethiopian-Israelis to open the door to technological careers for young Ethiopian Israelis. Tech-Career’s vision is to serve as a springboard for young Ethiopian-Israelis to gain the knowledge and skills to pursue promising and sustainable careers in fields in high demand in Israel’s high-tech industries. Their programs include: workshops in “soft” business skills, mentorships and group and individual guidance to prepare students for employment in the dynamic culture of Israel’s leading high-tech firms. Yahel volunteers will assist with English training for Tech-Career Fellows, as well as assisting the Tech-Career resource development team.