Adam Science graduates turn vision into reality

Young professionals on the UJIA Adam Science Foundation Leadership Programme (ASFLP) have spoken about their inspiring past 12 months on the scheme and their vision for the UK Jewish community. Ten leaders graduated from the flagship programme on Sunday 5 September 2010, equipped with the skills to put their ideas into practice and make a difference to our community.

The UJIA Adam Science Foundation Programme is a scheme for young professionals to develop their vision for and understanding of the key issues facing the UK Jewish community. Each year, the programme recruits people from diverse backgrounds, helping them to acquire the skills and experience to become leaders in the community.

ASFLP participants in 2009/10 worked with a mentor to nurture and guide them on their leadership path, took part in sessions with key communal organisations, as well as a project incubator to put their idea for a communal internship programme into practice. A highlight of the year was the international seminar in Boston in March 2010 where participants had the opportunity to compare the city's Jewish community to the UK, learn about its successes and generate ideas to use back at home.

Here are some testimonies from participants on the 2009/10 UJIA Adam Science Foundation Leadership Programme:

David Bloom, Commercial Director of a media technology company
"I know it is traditional to say that the Adam Science Foundation Leadership Programme changed my life. But it would be more accurate to say that it has helped me to take another step towards changing the lives of other people, as well as my own."

Claudia Schwartz, Research Analyst
"The programme has really opened my mind beyond the community that I know - that is, the modern orthodox one. UJIA has successfully created a cross partisan program. In making sure that all denominations were represented fairly, both in the organisations we visited and in the programme participants, we were all able to learn from each other.

"There are so many aspects to Jewish life to consider - from security, to care for the elderly, education and much more. Because of my exposure to all of this, I have been encouraged to volunteer more and to encourage my peers to do so too."

Russell Collins, Strategic Health Consultant
"Last September my only community involvement was a nominal seat on my shul board. But now I am now doing some really exciting work with fantastic organisations and people, particularly Jewish Care, a cross communal project in Hertfordshire and the Adam Science Programme Advisory Group.

"Prompted by my involvement in Adam Science, I have also enacted a more personal Jewish journey - spending the last year exploring, participating and reflecting on the diversity within our community. It's been an amazing journey and I have met some inspiring people in this country and on our trip to Boston."

Max Curtis, International Corporate Affairs Manager at Tesco
"The programme has been a unique opportunity to understand our community. I have met and learnt from the people who are leading our community - its security, education, welfare and politics. This was an opportunity to make sense of it and find my place.

"Everyone on the programme is given a mentor. My mentor is both chairman of one of the main Jewish organisations and a partner of a major City firm. The opportunity to be coached by someone with so much communal and business experience has been great for my career and taught me a lot about leadership."

You can read about the experiences of past alumni and the Adam Science Foundation Programme itself on our website.