Combine two service-focused experiences for a four-week opportunity to contribute to Jewish welfare in Bulgaria and in Israel. Delve into the rich heritage of a little-known Jewish community as an Ambassador to Bulgaria, then continue to the Land of Milk & Honey to encounter and participate in the modern face of Israel's development as part of Impact: Israel.
Check out the Bulgaria sample itinerary for a fuller picture of what this experience is about...
PART 1 / Ambassador to Bulgaria
Be a part of a close-knit group of Jewish teens from North America, Bulgaria and Serbia instilling hope in a Jewish community with a remarkable past. Join the 10-day Ambassador to Bulgaria experience, and take part in community service projects, build lasting friendships with local Jewish teens from Eastern Europe, and tour a beautiful land that is one of Europe's best kept secrets.
Why Bulgaria?
For over a decade, BBYO has a tradition of organizing groups of North American teens on missions to Bulgaria. BBYO is proud to have a thriving local chapter in Bulgaria and regularly invites Jewish teens from Bulgaria to international events in North American and Israel. The Ambassador to Bulgaria experience is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of this tradition, view what it means to be Jewish from a different perspective, and form lasting friendships with Jewish teens abroad.
PART 2 / IMPACT: Israel
Do something extraordinary this summer. IMPACT: Israel is a three-week service learning program designed primarily for teens looking to return to Israel for a deeper, community-based experience. The heart of IMPACT: Israel is a service learning experience (~70 total service hours). Dedicate your summer to living and volunteering as you work to improve infrastructure, education, and social services. You will visit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, exploring the world of social change in Israel and getting to know the people of Israel on a personal level. On IMPACT: Israel, you will gain new skills and understanding, and have the opportunity to leave Israel a better place than you found it.
As a leadership experience, you will meet citizen activists, public officials and leaders from across Israeli society who will give you an insider’s understanding of their efforts to shape the Israel of tomorrow. You will take part in leadership development workshops based on ‘Adaptive Leadership’, as taught at Harvard University. You will explore methods to strengthen impoverished communities, how to handle the influx of asylum seekers from Africa (including from Darfur), what the rightful role of Judaism should be in social renewal in Israel, and how Jerusalem’s Jewish and Palestinian residents can live in peace.
Immerse yourself in Israeli society and help define your own vision for the future of the Jewish State. Make your own IMPACT.
Is IMPACT: Israel right for me?
IMPACT: Israel is a unique Israel experience that combines community service, social advocacy, and experiential touring. The trip is open to Jewish teens of all backgrounds and is appropriate for teens who have never been to Israel as well as for those who are returning for a different perspective.
About PANIM
IMPACT: Israel is a project of PANIM, The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, which has just recently become a division of BBYO. PANIM educates, inspires, and empowers Jewish youth to a lifetime of leadership, service, and advocacy on behalf of the Jewish people and society at large. PANIMs unique approach to Jewish education integrating Jewish learning, values and social responsibility reinforces Jewish identity and inspires a commitment to become agents for positive social change in the world. Learn More: Panim Website
About the Experience
