Beschreibung der Einrichtung

The Israeli Volunteer Association (IVA), the largest volunteering organization in Israel for the past 40 years, operates among all sectors and populations in Israel: Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouins, religious, secular, men, women, children, youth, seniors, people with disabilities, youth at-risk, migrants and international volunteers. While promoting solidarity, equality and social justice, the IVA enables young people to engage in meaningful volunteer work, endowing them with social and professional skills.

The IVA perceives volunteering as a tool to promote meaningful social change and create a better future. Offering a wide scope of volunteering programs, the IVA aspires to reduce social-economic gaps; provide a stepping-stone for marginalized and disadvantaged groups; fight against racism and prejudice and promote solidarity, equality and tolerance.

As an organization specializing in the field of volunteering, the IVA aims to promote new cooperation models with various partners from different countries, as part of its international program. This includes development of a pedagogical framework for hosting, integrating, operating and escorting international volunteers. The program is designed for young adults between 18-25 years old coming from different countries, cultural and social backgrounds.

The aim of the international program is to increase awareness, dialog and understanding between different people. The international program enables international volunteers to go through a process of intercultural learning through the experience of living and volunteering in Israel. Through this experience they are encouraged to critically explore their perceptions of the "Self" and the "Other" and take an active part in improving their societies. Volunteering in this project is one powerful way for them to gain a strong sense of civic engagement and bring about positive transformational change into the societies and communities. The program is also a meaningful platform for deepening the exchange and intercultural understanding between people from different countries. It will encourage intercultural dialogue and forging informed opinions by focusing on Israeli pluralistic culture, as well as strengthening the unique bond between different civil societies.