Global Outreach Alliance needs 15 volunteers for 2013′s Israel Summer Camp. Volunteers will spend one-on-one time with the children participants of the camp. The children participants are from families who would not otherwise be able to afford an English-/mentoring-training camp if it were not for this sponsorship program during the schools’ off season. Therefore, this serves these children and their families well. It furthers the aim of GOA’s team expeditions as it satisfies a mentor objective, cross cultural exchange and learning, and also makes an effort to provide education (English, the primary focused need as deemed by the community itself).
Volunteers are housed with families that are specially selected to receive our volunteer team. Volunteers will also eat with their families–enjoying a rare opportunity to eat and socialize with the locals in the comfort of their homes.
This program varies slightly from year to year, but it mostly focuses on mentoring and building strong relationships (helping bridge cultural gaps); teaches arts, crafts and language skills. These skills are paramount to the children’s success as they grow older, but also strengthens relationships between cross-cultural groups to promote peace and understanding. Lastly, this program bolsters building community capacity and togetherness as we work hand-in-hand with local leaders, teachers and parents to ensure a quality, well-run camp.
Read More
Led by Margret Ellwanger and Steven Wrigley, this program brings over 15 years of combined experience working in Israel. Be prepared to learn invaluable lessons about the field of community development! Teams are typically a good mix of old and young, students, teachers, academics, professionals, diplomats, parent/child combinations, retired couples and individuals looking for something meaningful to contribute to the world. To date, teams have been an eclectic combination of American, Australian, European, Israeli participants.
Themes: There will be eight themes for the camp. Volunteer camp councilors focus on different themes and teach according to their skill sets, backgrounds and interests. All themes must use English, as it remains a key focus of training for the youth participants.
1. Computer Training
2. Math Olympics
3. Arts & Crafts
4. Personal Mastery & Leadership Development
5. Physical Fitness (sports and games)
6. Debate & Peaceful Dialogue
7. Environmental Conservation
8. Music & Dance
The culmination of the camp will consist of our team partnering with the youth participants of the camp to carry out a joint service project. The joint service project will be determined by our group of volunteers in collaboration with our local partners and community leaders.
Additional Project Information:
We work hard to extract the talents and skills of our volunteer team members. We are always happy to adapt this program slightly to better utilize volunteers’ unique skills, all while maintaining focus on the core objectives we have set out to accomplish in our local partnerships for the betterment of those we serve. Please keep in mind that these project ideas are derived from homegrown solutions and partnerships that see results. These projects are directly correlated to meet local opportunities for development and youth education.
Accommodations:
Volunteers are housed with families that are specially selected to receive our volunteer team. Volunteers will also eat with their families–enjoying a rare opportunity to eat and socialize with the locals in the comfort of their homes.
Food:
Going along our model of authentic cultural immersion, volunteers will get the opportunity to eat nutritious, locally prepared food in the homes of the families they stay with. The food is fresh and tastes great!
Optional Cultural/Adventure Excursion:
At the end of each expedition there will be an option for volunteers to embark on a cultural/adventure tour to local sights/areas of interest (i.e. exploration of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, or trekking through the Negev Desert while staying in Bedouin tents). These excursions vary in length, but are typically 2-3 days in Israel. Global Outreach Alliance is not a tourism company (we are a non-profit public charity organization); therefore, as an organization, we strictly refrain from engaging in tourism activities, nor do we use donations/program fees to go towards tourism activities. However, given the holistic economic benefit responsible, eco-friendly tourism provides to the people and communities where we work, we are happy to assist in arranging optional excursions for our volunteers. These optional tours are facilitated by Umoja Adventure Travel, a Umoja Social Ventures LLC company, which operate excursions locally in each country we work–employing trained and qualified locals, contributing to direct, local economic benefit, and celebrating the beauty that exists in our world all while maintaining proper respect for local environment, culture and tradition. If you are wanting more information or would like to sign up for an optional tour, please send an email to info@umojatravel.com. Or, when/if you apply, please ‘check’ the box under the appropriate section to inform us that you would like to participate.
Additional Questions?
Check out the FAQ section of our site. Or, please feel free call us at 801-449-0463.
June 29 - July 13, 2013
$200 Deposit + $900 Program Fee (Includes all in-country expenses and project/material costs). Does not include airfare to/from Tel Aviv.
