Description

The project will take place in the old Central Bus Station of Tel Aviv, in an area called Neveh Shanan, which is considered to be Tel Aviv's Red Light district. This area is one of the poorest and most troubled areas in the city limits, and is littered with prostitution, drug use, and abuse. The women surviving in this area represent a population with a strong and persisting fear. Most of these women are heavily addicted to drugs, resort to prostitution as a way to pay for their habit, and have suffered through abuse, rape, and severe exhaustion from this seemingly inescapable lifestyle.

The women's shelter offers these women a number of services. Most importantly, it offers a safe place to rest. The fear of robbery or rape while sleeping on the streets has caused most of these women to resort to insomnia. The shelter has three main steps: A). allow women to catch up on sleep, B). restore the women's personal hygiene, and C). nourishing the women.

Once we connect to their basic needs, we can open a discussion towards counseling and eventually friendship and trust. Because there are absolutely no drugs allowed in the shelter, this is a place where these women can feel clean and safe, but it can hold the danger of withdrawal.

Volunteers are greatly needed to help with the general upkeep of the shelter. Volunteers must understand that they may be working in physically and mentally difficult situations, and must have a strong will to help these women find safety and security. Volunteers may be asked to assist with the following responsibilities:

- Cleaning
- Maintenance
- Cooking and Kitchen Duties
- Laundry
- General Upkeep

You may also be asked to help with other harrowing tasks associated with the shelter such as keeping an eye on the women while they sleep, or making sure no one takes drugs while inside. We ask volunteers to come with an open mind and an open heart, because the work we do is irreplaceable in the lives of these women. In providing clean clothes and a bite to eat, we are offering these women much more than shelter.

Volunteers work each day from around 10:00 - 15:00, and are provided with lunch at the shelter.

Highlights

Tel Aviv-Jaffa is an amazing area of Israel. There are innumerable bars and clubs through out the city, and it is famous for its 24/7 lifestyle. Tel Aviv is world famous for its nightlife!

The northern Jaffa area is home to markets and cafes and is quite a lively and exciting place to live. You will also be able to travel easily, as Israel is a small country with many interesting sites and destinations. Visit Eilat, and its coral reefs on the Red Sea, or take a day to visit Jerusalem, overflowing with religion, culture, and diversity.

Travel Types

• Volunteering

Qualifications

- Basic English/ or Hebrew
- Good physical fitness
- High level of independence
- Motivation to work with street women
- Full travel and medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

510 for 1 week, 160 for each extra week

Cost Includes:

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

Program Fees Include:

- Food: Breakfast and Lunch during service at project
- Orientation kit: Full project details will be sent following registration
- Training: Pre-departure preparation and In-country orientation
- Support: Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Adult Education
• Cooking
• Volunteering
• Women

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

18-70

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Independent living

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 1-2

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