Volunteering & Charities
Israel’s
Largest Bike Ride Feeding
the Needy French Student’s New Life in Israel Healing by Horseback Riding Short Term Volunteering
Caring for the Elderly and Lonely
Israelis Care for Terror Victims Israeli Doctors
Care for the World Israelis Help Katmandu Street Children |
Every
year, more than 160 participants from the United States, Europe,
Canada and Israel gather for a five-day ride through the Israeli
countryside.
It is Israel’s largest annual sports charity event and every year
it sees a marked increase in the number of riders. The Alyn Pediatric
and
Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, one of the world’s premier
medical
centers for children with disabilities, sponsors the event. Running
time: 1.48 minutes
Hunger
takes no holidays. That’s true even in the Holy Land. Despite
extensive government sponsored social programs, private initiatives are
an essential part of the battle against hunger. Hazon Yeshaya is
one of
Israeli’s premiere programs at the forefront of the effort to make
sure no one goes hungry. Founded by Abraham Israel, a self-described former
hungry refugee, the chain of soup kitchens feeds more than 120,000 Israelis
per month. The organization’s 140 volunteers are high school and
college students, adults and pensioners, many of whom are in Israel as
tourists. Hazon Yeshaya’s centers are open 365 days a year and often
provide the only hot meal of the day for Israel’s less fortunate
citizens. Running time: 4.22 minutes
Driven
by a desire to live and succeed in Israel, Clara Bayler
left her native France to embark on a new life in Israel. In between pursuing
her Masters Degree at Tel Aviv University and socializing with friends,
Clara volunteers for Israel’s ambulance service, Magen David Adom
(MDA). Twice-a-week, Clara dons the familiar white and orange vest of an
MDA emergency response volunteer and hits the streets to help Israel’s
sick and injured. Running time: 2.12 minutes
Pioneering
research conducted in Israel, known as animal-assisted
therapy, is helping people with severe handicaps improve their
quality of life. Through a course of therapy that includes such activities
as caring for
a dog and riding a horse, injured war veterans, or children born with
congenital problems, are realizing significant improvement in their emotional
and physical conditions. There is something healing about the interaction
between people and animals and, while it has not been clearly defined,
Israel is at the forefront of using it for the betterment of others. Running
time: 5.12 minutes
For 25 years, Livnot
U'Lehibanot has made it possible for college students
from around the world to volunteer their time while exploring their Jewish
roots. In response to the outbreak of violence in September 2000 and
the surge of eager international volunteers, Livnot began a series of
short-term programs for tourists interested in lending a helping hand
by refurbishing homes, painting hospitals and caring for the less fortunate. Running time: 3.13 minutes
The ever increasing elderly community presents a challenge to all modern societies. In Israel private initiatives supplement government programs to assist the golden age citizens. Yitav, a voluntary association for the elderly, is one such organization that provides contact and care for thousands, by way of a hot-line and a network of dedicated volunteers. Meet two Jerusalem teens who 'adopted' a grandmother, forging new family ties of caring, friendship and love. Running time: 3.33 minutes
Israeli terror victims and their families now have a special home in Jerusalem where they receive personalized care and support. The center was opened by "The One Family Fund"
The Israeli organization "Save a Child's Heart" is one of the largest undertakings in the world that provides urgently needed pediatric heart surgery and follow-up care for children from third world and developing countries. Its entire surgical, intensive care and nursing staff volunteer their services and donate their time, in conjunction with the Wolfson Medical Center outside Tel Aviv. The organization also brings medical personnel to train in Israel. Thousands of sick children from all over the world, regardless of race or religion, have had their lives saved with cutting edge medical technology. In this report we interview two Palestinian families.
An Israeli-based humanitarian charity that is aiding the poor and needy children in Katmandu, Nepal. What is even more interesting is
that it is run by Israeli young adults, many of whom have taken time off from their post-army service backpacking trip to volunteer
their time and skills. They use their skills in nursing, education, art, etc. to help these Nepalese underprivileged children. In Nepal's last election process,
their organization Tevel BeTzedek, was invited to participate as an International
observer group. The group lives together in a large eco-friendly vegetarian house, which also serves as their home base in the Nepalese capital.
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