Location
Jerusalem is a city of both ancient and modern splendor steeped in history and culture. Whether you prefer to revisit the sites and stories of eras past in the Old City or experience the culture and night life of the New City, Jerusalem has something for everyone.
About the project
Shekel is a non-profit organization which provides community services for people with a variety of disabilities and special needs. Over the years it has established the Community Living Program, an impressive network of rented apartments all over Jerusalem and near Tel Aviv in which hundreds of adults with intellectual and functional disabilities live. These apartments, usually designed for 4-6 people, are cared for by trained personnel who follow individualized treatment plans which are up-dated as the residents make progress. By living in the community and not in hostels or other institutions, those with special needs feel more pride and more capable than they would have had they lived in a completely sheltered community. Some of the residents have even made progress to the degree in which they can now live independently in their own apartment.
Volunteer work and contribution
As a volunteer you will be involved in the Community Living Program. Responsibilities include:
- Helping with the physical care of the residents (feeding, dressing, showering, personal care)
- Helping residents participate in a variety of special activities during the week: physical therapy music, swimming, arts and crafts, baking and cooking and community outings
- Actively participating in the residents' individual programs
- Emotional support, coping with their disabilities and helping them integrate in the community.
Accommodation
International volunteers stay in a shared apartment for 6 people in the center of Jerusalem. The apartment includes: rooms suited for 2 - 3 people, beds, bathroom, shower, and fully equipped kitchen. Allowance will be provided for food and local transport.
Travel highlights
Jerusalem is a vibrant city that celebrates both the old and the new. In the Old City, one can explore cultural and religious sites in the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic quarters and visit archeological excavations that tell the city's history for the past several thousand years. In the New City, participants can experience a busy nightlife, sports events, concerts and a variety of museums, including the Israel Museum, the Bible Lands Museum and Yad Vashem, an important Holocaust memorial museum.
Minimum requirements
- Min age 18 - Max age 70
- Conversational English or Hebrew
- Good physical fitness
- Strong work ethic
- Motivation to do physical and demanding work
- Able to work in harsh desert climate
- Full travel & medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)