Volunteer program is an exciting program to the marginalized rural Jewish community and their non-Jews neighbors. We mostly target rural Jewish communities who rarely gets access to social services. We previously conducted purely religious outreaches under this program. However, our experience arising from the informed the current volunteering program which is integrated to address other community needs. Therefore, our current volunteering program brings a spectrum of different professional volunteers both local and international focusing on teaching Judaism/Torah, agriculture extension services, socio-economic, health discussions and psychosocial support to youth and care givers.
Our entry point for this program is through visiting Jewish communities and our meetings are hosted by synagogues. The program targets both children and adults Jews and Non-Jewish people. This is aimed at laying foundation for Judaism among the children as they advance in learning more principles of Judaism, it also gives opportunity to non-Jews to learn about Judaism. Jewish community learn and get clarifications about basics of Jewish mitzvoth, halakha, how to deliver a lesson on Shabbat and Shabbat observance, Torah Study, Topics from weekly Parasha, Jewish calendar, Jewish Laws, different Judaism celebrations, what they mean and how they are Celebrated among others. Whiles the religious sessions are given ample time we appreciate the need for information beyond religion for the well-being of our Jewish communities, this is where other professional volunteers come in with discussion on Agriculture, Health, socio- economic wellbeing discussions of their families, how to ensure food security in their homes, household income, psychosocial support on positive child nurturing, general counselling and guidance on different issues raising from discussions participants among others.
We also work with volunteers to visit and work with families while supporting them with improving family hygiene and sanitation, working in small gardens especially for the elderly people, teaching them on different topics. This volunteering exercise usually takes few days.
We respond to disaster affecting local Jewish and non-Jewish communities, for us to respond to the real needs of the affected people, we conduct rapid needs assessments in the shortest time possible and with support from well-wishers, we deliver life-saving assistance and materials to the affected communities. These my include medical supplies, temporary shelters in case of displacement, food distribution, utensils, beddings, mosquito nets depending on the situation and the urgent needs.
