Ayalim's Sivan Shachari visits Leeds and Sheffield

Ayalim's Sivan Shachari visits Leeds and Sheffield to inspire and address the community at a lunchtime meeting in Leeds held at Brooke North LLP.

It gave an insight into what the ethos and work of UJIA funded Ayalim is.
The organization nurtures values such as Zionism, young entrepreneurship and the bonds between man and land and between individual and society. All this is achieved through the foundation of student and entrepreneur villages which serve as pillars of social outreach and the creation of new communities.

The objective is to make these villages into bases for acquaintance with the region and its potential. The villages combine housing and social making intended to advance the society and education in the Galil.

In return for the scholarship and discounted housing in the villages each student works app. 500 annual hours with children from development towns and participates in the special projects of the Association - such as building gardens in development towns, renovations in local schools, clubs, neighborhoods, etc. This activity is driven by the understanding that the project's success lies in correct combination of the individual needs and national objectives.

UJIA is committed to Galil-wide initiatives such as community transformation programmes and upgrading schools. These are intended to strengthen the region's social infrastructure and indirectly provide a significant boost to the local economy. Sivan talked about the background of Ayalim and the synergy between the work both UJIA and Ayalim in the Galil.

The evening meeting held at the Kingfield Synagogue Hall Sheffield was excellent, although being a small community the meeting was both informative and vibrant. Chairman Steven Mendelson introduced Sivan and UJIA Chair Frada Wilenski gave the vote of thanks. Sivan was presented with a book on Sheffield as a reminder of her of her visit.

To find out more about UJIA's work in Israel or your local community please contact Howard Foreman