Incredible program

I did the 2012-13 9-month volunteer program. This program is well-designed, intentional, and thoughtful. We networked with a variety of non-profits/NGOs around Israel, which exposed us to the wonderful social justice being practiced across the country. Dana and the Yahel staff worked diligently to ensure participants were assigned volunteer work that aligned to our passions, allowing us to fine tune skills we could bring to our careers back home.

I have not had a more high-impact year since. It was such a transformational and inspiring experience. I recommend it to anyone who is considering work abroad, has even the slightest interest in Israeli social justice issues, and/or wants to do something more meaningful than a weeklong fairytale (ie birthright).

What I love most about this program is there is no sugarcoating of the issues on the ground. Rather than paint a more comfortable picture or ignore a problem, Yahel encourages direct engagement - no running from problems. It’s an approach I respect and wish were prevalent across more organizations.