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Jewish-Arab Partnerships
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Volunteerism, mutual assistance and community responsibility are all necessary components of any vibrant democratic civil society. Jews and Arabs acting together, particularly in volunteer initiatives, have the potential for bringing about a more equitable and just Israel.
Joint Jewish-Arab Year of Volunteerism
Within the framework of The Tent – AJEEC's Negev Arab Bedouin Volunteer Center - the Joint Jewish-Arab Year of Volunteerism Project enables young Jews and Arabs to work together on programs benefiting the Negev's Arab Bedouin and Jewish communities. The project, a joint initiative of AJEEC and the Israel Scouts Movement, brings together 10 Arab Bedouin and 10 Jewish high school graduates, who are outstanding young adults, for a year of joint full-time community service.
The volunteers undergo an intensive training program before and during their work in the community. Special emphasis is placed on consolidation of the group in bi-national encounters that include: personal and group empowerment, clarification of social identities, multi-cultural contact and relations between the majority and minorities within Israel. In addition, the volunteers receive pedagogical training and professional guidance preparing them for the task of tutoring school children and conducting after-school enrichment activities. One day weekly is devoted to in-service training, group workshops and planning.
Volunteers, who work in mixed teams in schools and community centers:.
► Tutor math and Hebrew during school hours in Arab Bedouin primary schools. The volunteers conduct special civics workshops devoted to issues such as violence, prejudice, human rights and good citizenship.
► Teach spoken Arabic and familiarize children with Arab Bedouin culture in Jewish primary schools in Beer Sheva.
►Provide after-school enrichment programs for children and youth: sports, drama, arts and crafts and other special interests circles, homework and study labs, social activities and scouting.
► Organize and lead joint social and sport events for Arab Bedouin and Jewish school-aged children.
►Organize pecial camp programs during the school breaks.
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Training for Arab and Jewish Group Facilitators
This two-year program trains group facilitators for Jewish-Arab encounter groups and participants in joint Jewish-Arab programs. The program is conducted under the joint auspices of AJEEC and Kolot B’Negev, an association devoted to the promotion of pluralism and dialogue within Israeli society.
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Past Partnerships
Previous partnership programs conducted by AJEEC include Pupils Creating Change Together, a project of encounter and interaction between Jewish and Arab school children and teachers conducted in partnership with the Givat Haviva Jewish-Arab Center for Peace, and a Training Program for Community Mediators, conducted jointly with the Joe Alon Center, which trained Jewish and Arab Bedouin professional women as community mediators. |
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