School Year 9 Israel Trips 2009

Four Jewish secondary schools have just returned from an Israel trip of a lifetime with UJIA this Summer. Year nine pupils from JFS, King Solomon and Yavneh College in London and King David Schools in Manchester all experienced their own unique journeys through the length and breadth of Israel.

Some of the participants had never been to Israel before this summer, some had been numerous times on holiday with their families, but few had ever left the beaten track and certainly none had ever experienced the kind of unique trip that lay ahead. With trekking across the Judean desert and climbing the hills in the Galil, as well as kayaking down the Jordan River, there wasn't a dull moment for the duration of their stay.

As well as sightseeing each school took part in volunteering projects across the country, including one in UJIA's partnership region of the Galil, northern Israel. Yavneh College pupils worked at the northern feeder rivers to the Jordan, clearing the areas of rubbish and creating visitor friendly zones around the riverbanks, to allow families to enjoy the beautiful scenery unhindered. Daniel Marcus, Head of Jewish Studies at Yavneh College and Israel trip Leader, said "the children learnt about the terrible litter problem around the banks of the Jordan River and its devastating effect on wildlife and water pollution. Then they all worked as 'River Rangers,' clearing the banks of litter and making the Jordan more pleasant for all. Personally, I was immensely proud of our pupils and we had so much fun in the process, getting somewhat wet!"

Avi Gillis, of the Schools Department at UJIA Israel Experience, who organised the trips said, "It's so important that teenagers get a taste of Israel at an early age to whet their appetites for what's to come. Hopefully they will follow up their year nine experience with a month long post-GCSE Israel Tour and then a Gap Year in Israel with a Youth Movement."

Richard Reback, a pupil from Yavneh College said, "the Jordan River volunteering was the best part for me, and the whole trip has been so different to all the other times I have been to Israel." One of the pupils from King Solomon High School, Lauren Peters, had never been to Israel before this summer. When asked to describe the trip in just three words, she described it as "spiritual, emotional and challenging."

Each school sent daily updates to all of their pupils' parents and gave details of what their children were doing each day. Following the trip, one parent of the JFS "A Taste of Israel" trip said, "I've just had an hour of Adam saying how wonderful the last two weeks were. The only other time I've ever heard him anywhere near as excited is when he talks about Arsenal!"

Over 300 pupils went on UJIA School trips this summer and each school expects an increase in numbers next year. UJIA provides bursary funding for families of pupils in financial difficulty to allow as many pupils as possible to enjoy their Year 9 School Israel Experience.

For more information contact Avi Gillis at UJIA Israel Experience / t: 020 7424 6455