Volunteer + Tourism = Voluntourism
/Your visit to Israel becomes a journey that makes a real difference!
Volunteering in Israel is an excellent way of integrating and immersing yourself into the community and culture. When you volunteer for the benefit of others, you attain the satisfaction of self-fulfillment and the knowledge that you have made a positive change.
Do good and feel good! Below are examples in Jerusalem you can choose from:
Karmei Hair is a little-known-about soup kitchen located right next to Machane Yehuda Shuk. Here, the homeless or needy come to the soup kitchen and are served with dignity. The project is small but has affected many others like it to adopt the service attitude towards the impoverished. The location turns no one away, and is sometimes mistaken for an Israeli restaurant by tourists! Small groups of 4-5 people are welcome to visit the restaurant, thank the staff for their amazing services, and witness the amazing charity effort.
Eshel is a particularly unique food kitchen where volunteers are invited to serve the homeless restaurant-style and help prepare the food. The nature of the service provided by the volunteers helps to empower the individual’s self-worth and Eshel has locations throughout Israel, and most locations look for volunteers to help with the day-to-day needs.
Afikim is a network of afternoon centers across Israel that offers new hope and possibilities for disadvantaged, troubled families; the only framework of its kind to work with both children and their parents on a long-term basis. Staff and volunteers empower and support the children through pragmatic curriculum and projects run year-round. Volunteers are requested to prepare a performance or song that shares their culture for the entertainment of the youth. This cultural experience empowers the youth to experience more of the world and broaden their educations about foreigners. The performances further aid the staff who spends 4-6 hours a day with the kids.
- Bat Melech is an organization dedicated to the protection, care, and empowerment of women and children who have escaped domestic abuse. Bat Melech invites women only to learn about the prevention and treatment of domestic violence in Israel. Visits are conducted at a shelter for women at an anonymous location in Israel. Some volunteer opportunities are available for visitors. They seek to find supporters of any kind for this project, to help the mothers and their children thrive in a better world.
