A core piece of Ameinu’s work in field of Tikkun Olam is our Kibbutz Programs Center (KPC). KPC was a project originally created by the Kibbutz Movement and the Jewish Agency. In 2010, Ameinu began managing KPC and breathed new life into this endeavor.
KPC is a key component of Ameinu’s efforts to promote Jewish values of Tikkum Olam and social justice in Jewish communities across North America. Our brand of programs connects young adults with exciting and inspiring programs in Israel. As one of the premier providers of long and short term Israel experiences, both on and off kibbutzim, KPC offers a wide range of options focusing on Hebrew and Arabic language study, environmental apprenticeships, peace and co-existence projects, and many forms of social justice activism.
If you know of someone ages 16-35 who is looking to do something extraordinary for any amount of time between 4 week and 10 months, or know a parent who is looking for the right Israel program for their child, the KPC is the place to go especially for meaningful volunteerism in the sphere of social justice experiences.
Please take a look at the brief summaries of a few our program, listed below, and consider helping us spread the word about the KPC and our social justice programs in Israel.
Achvat Amim – Solidarity of Nations
Achvat Amim – Solidarity of Nations is a framework for meaningful engagement with leading Israeli social justice organizations in and around Jerusalem. Achvat Amim focuses on developing practical skills in community development and education through intensive volunteer projects and engaging with social change and human rights movements. By renewing the conversation on Jewish Peoplehood and Zionism for the 21st century, participants can explore and help shape Jewish culture and identity for themselves and the Jewish people.
Click Here for more information on Achvat Amim
The Intensive Arabic Semester Program
The Intensive Arabic Semester Program offers a holistic approach to language learning, 
coexistence work, and inter-community volunteering between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs. During the course of the five-month program, our students learn Hebrew, standard and spoken Arabic, and Israeli and Middle Eastern History. Students experience Israeli Kibbutz life while simultaneously being immersed in the local Arab culture through volunteering, field trips, and home stay families. The program is administered by Givat Haviva and now is accredited by the Al Qasemi Academic College of Education. For the first time we are also offering a six-week Intensive Spoken Arabic course at Givat Haviva.
Click Here for more information about the Intensive Arabic Program
The Lotan Center for Creative Ecology
The Lotan Center for Creative Ecology offers short and long-term hands-on opportunity at Kibbutz Lotan to allow anyone to discover the challenges involved with the design, building and running of sustainable communities, linking together ecological, social, economical and spiritual aspects into a unified whole. Practical skills are developed through hands-on work in our environmental education center, organic gardens, alternative/natural building projects and the Lotan Nature and Migratory Bird Reserve, complemented by theoretical sessions in topics such as ecological design, permaculture and sustainability. Practical work includes: Organic gardening, natural & alternative building with mud, straw and straw bales, tires and recycled waste, creative recycling – creating art and usable objects with discarded materials, expansion, maintenance and running of the Center for Creative Ecology, development and upkeep of the nature reserve and nature trails, setting up workshops for educational tour groups, and more.
Click Here for more information about the Lotan Center for Creative Ecology
Dror Leadership High School
Dror Leadership High School is a semester-abroad high school program for North American 
10th and 11th graders in Israel. Students spend four months traveling Israel, learning Hebrew, making life-long friendships, experiencing Jewish history and Israeli society, and strengthening leadership skills. All of this, while continuing to excel academically. With thousands of years of history and an abundance of natural beauty, ancient sites and the natural landscape are the classroom. Modern-day Israel becomes a hands-on Jewish leadership experience as students are invited to take an active role through personalized social action projects.
Click Here for more information about the Dror Leadership High School
iTrack – Build Your OWN Experience
For participants interested in creating their own social justice experience in Israel, we offer iTrack – The Build Your OWN Experience program. Our knowledgeable KPC staff works one-on-one to help each applicant create a personalized 4-10 month Israel experience.
Each program is uniquely built by and for the participants allowing them to engage with the Israeli social justice struggles that best fit their values and interests.
These are but a small handful of examples of the opportunities that KPC offers to develop Jewish values and social justice skills in Israel. You can learn more about our programs from Lauren Carel, our KPC Director of Admissions. Much more can also be found at: www.kibbutzprogramcenter.org/
Please help spread the word about the KPC’s amazing opportunities. This is your way to see Jewish values in action in Israel through members of your families, organizations, and communities. And please let us know if we can provide you with any additional information on KPC or any of our Tikkun Olam programs.
