Description

Established in 1969, the Israel Association of Community Center's mission is to advance the quality of life in Israel's most diverse communities. The Center's mission is to tailor programs to the unique needs of each community. Some projects include innovative early childhood enrichment programs that encourage embracing each other's differences, to coexistence programs between Jews and Arabs. It offers the services of professional training, planning, development, and fundraising for special projects to meet the needs of its network that includes over 180 community centers (40 in the non-Jewish sector) throughout Israel.

GoEco volunteers will have the opportunity to work alongside the Community Center in the diverse town of Mughar and assist with its annual summer camp for Druze, Christian and Muslim youth. The themes of the camp are the principles of coexistence, arts, sports and ecology in English.

After your orientation in Jerusalem, you will start volunteering at the campp in Mughar. Volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to:

- Organizing various activities for students
- Setting up and conducting workshops on ecology, sports, music and arts
- Rotating between the workshops to teach English
- Escorting day trips (e.g. swimming pool, nature hikes, theme park, etc)

Highlights

As part of the program, volunteers participate in a day trip to the beautiful Sea of Galilee and other local attractions. During the evenings volunteers can socialize and use the local gym. The community center and host families organize unique events as well, such as cooking classes and lectures.

Travel Types

• Eco Tours
• Hiking
• Homestay
• Sports
• Volunteering

Qualifications

- High level of English
- Excellent state of health
- No alcohol
- Modest dress
- Motivation to work with youth
- Open mind and willingness to experience new cultures

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

400 for 15 days

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

- Training: GoEco volunteer and travel orientation in Jerusalem
- Accommodation: Local family home-stay
- Food: 3 meals a day (except during orientation)
- Support: Pre-departure assistance, local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Childcare/children
• Peace
• Teaching
• Volunteering
• Youth

Typical Volunteer

Volunteers with GoEco are united by their passion for travel and desire to help people. Our volunteers are from all over the world, representing a host of religions, cultures, and languages. Ultimately, GoEco volunteers are fun-loving, adventurous, and outgoing agents for change.

Age Range

19-50

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 5-15

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone/Video Interview

GoEco - Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement

(1) Encourage ecological and volunteer tourism that promotes sustainable development (2) Enable travelers to experience different and more rewarding kinds of tourism. (3) Encourage travelers to volunteer for the benefit of others and thus to serve as a good-will ambassador to other countries in the world. (4) Encourage travelers from all over the world to come to Israel for ecological and community-based projects, in both the Arab and Jewish sectors, and experience firsthand the unique cultural and natural diversity in this region. (5) Support environmental and humanitarian projects that promote understanding and good will between ethnic societies in Israel. (6) Conduct further research in the field of ecological tourism, such as the 'Ecological Footprint' as a tool for sustainable tourism development. (7) Establish an in-depth and up-to-date data base of the relevant projects worldwide. (8) Create a platform from which to explore the various organizations that support the environment and actively encourage volunteering.

Year Founded

2005