Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "environmental" projects in Israel

This is an ongoing project. Minimum participation period is 4 weeks.

GoEco and "Meholelim" (Connecting People and Planet Centre) invite international volunteers to join this unique project and to take part in building a regional ecological community centre. The centre will be the focal point for the community to learn about and to become aware of its natural surroundings and sustainable way of living. The project envisions a place that will remind people of themselves and nature in all its aspects. The aim is to start building a little "paradise" located in a rare oak forest, the last surviving forest of those which used to cover the landscape of the Holy Land centuries ago. The overall project includes the ongoing construction of a stone theatre and shallow pools, experiencing ecological economy, maintaining an organic agriculture field, practicing wisdom (hochma) from the old Israelite philosophy and from other philosophies of wisdom including Kabbala and  Zen.
 
The regional community is welcoming all inhabitants of the area to interact with nature and to discover a Big Mind and Big Heart. The project hopes to create integrative educational activities for all sectors of the population. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work on a project that is interacting positively between mankind and mother earth. You will have the opportunity to learn skills in building, stone working, forestry, land nurturing, organic agriculture and grey water. Volunteers will join fully in the month's activities and any holidays.

volunteers will assist in creating permaculture systems, such as waterhole systems, terrace building, compost toilets, traditional farming, organic gardens, earth building, education programs and many more.

Kibbutz Bet-Oren on top of the Carmel Mountains, south of the city of Haifa. The area itself is dotted with ancient caves and unspoilt corners of the forest that are waiting to be discovered.

Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.

As the place is a work in progress, conditions are rather basic. Volunteers will live in field conditions, in basic yet comfortable forest shelters, with outdoor toilets and showers (What can be better than showering under a tree?). There will be an open kitchen with basic provisions and communal meals will be prepared.

€190 to be paid on arrival.

City Of Haifa, Israel.

The Word Cultural Association in co-operation with The Youth Development Department.

The World Cultures Association was established in December 2007, to enrich the artistic and cultural scene in Haifa and northern Israel, where a great number of youth talents act with almost no support or resources.
We believe in art. We believe in its power to create a strong bridge for dialogue between cultures, promote better understanding and replace preconceptions with acceptation and appreciation of the other.
The World Cultures Association carries out art workshops, international festivals of film, music and theatre, organizing artistic youth exchanges for professionals and non professionals and seminars in the theme of intercultural dialogue.

: Volunteers will be cleaning the beach of Haifa City during the morning hours and in the afternoons volunteers will be integrated into 3 groups: theatre, music and sculpture where they will work in their final performance. At the end they will present a performance that will take place in Haifa’s beach, together with other artist performances of local artists.

Volunteers will be staying at apartments and tents on the Beach.

Part of the workcamp experience includes engaging with international youth as well as with the Arab-Palestinian society. Through projects, discussions and cultural field trips, you will learn about your peers and about Arab-Palestinian culture while contributing to this community.

200 Euros, to be paid upon arrival.

The mission of Yotvata Hai-Bar (Wildlife Preserve) Nature Reserve is to establish reproductive groups for populations of wild animals that are mentioned in the Bible; but have disappeared from the landscape, as well as for other endangered desert animals. The reserve is dotted with Acacia trees and includes a variety of desert habitats: an Aacia forest, a salt marsh, and sand dunes. The reserve has three parts: a three-acre penned-in open area, where herds of herbivorous animals live in conditions similar to those in the wild; the Predators Center, where reptiles, small desert animals, and large predators are on display; and the Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall, where night and day are reversed so that visitors to the reserve can observe nocturnal animals during their active hours. Volunteers are needed to assist the Israel Nature & Parks Authority (NPA) staff with its daily work and further enrichment projects at the Predators & Visitors Centers.

volunteers will work with the NPA staff at the Predators & Visitors centers. Duties include: feeding animals and cleaning habitats, maintenance work, observation and data collection, field work and constructing enrichment facilities.

Yotvata Hai-Bar (Wildlife Preserve) is situated on Route 90 (Dead Sea-Eilat) between Kibbutz Yotvata and Kibbutz Samar, about 35 kilometers north of Eilat.

Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.

International volunteers will stay in basic shared apartment next to the Hai-Bar.  Apartment includes: rooms suited for 4-6 people, bunk beds, bathroom, shower, and fully equipped kitchen.

€150 to be paid on arrival.

The beginning of the project includes a 2 day orientation and preparation seminar in Tel Aviv. This project does not include food, around 5 Euros per day is estimated for each volunteer to purchase food at the local market.

Baladna and Sakhnen Municipality.

Sakhnin is a very old town, which dates back 3,500 years. The town is situated in the heart of the Galilee and has holy sites for Muslims, Christians and Jews.
The town is built over three hills. It is 200-250 meters above sea level, and it is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, the highest of them is 602 meters high.
Today there are over 25,000 inhabitants in Sakhnin and most of them make a living from businesses, light industry, and construction work within the neighbouring cities.

Volunteers will work on an important site, called The Spring "El-EIN" which lies in the southeast of the town. This served as the main source of drinking water for the people of Sakhnin decades ago. Volunteers will help to develop the surrounding area of the spring into a small park with plants and flowers. In addition the work will be at different location of the town as gardening public school, painting (drawing) walls of schools in order to interact with the local population and promote the idea of volunteering. All the projects will not only add to the village but will benefit the lives of the people who live there.

Part of the work camp experience includes engaging with international youth as well as with the Arab-Palestinian society. Through projects, discussions and cultural field trips, you will learn about your peers and about Arab-Palestinian culture while contributing to this community.

In a municipal centre.

180 Euros to be paid upon arrival.

The mission of Yotvata Hai-Bar (Wildlife Preserve) Nature Reserve is to establish reproductive groups for populations of wild animals that are mentioned in the Bible; but have disappeared from the landscape, as well as for other endangered desert animals. The reserve is dotted with Acacia trees and includes a variety of desert habitats: an Aacia forest, a salt marsh, and sand dunes. The reserve has three parts: a three-acre penned-in open area, where herds of herbivorous animals live in conditions similar to those in the wild; the Predators Center, where reptiles, small desert animals, and large predators are on display; and the Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall, where night and day are reversed so that visitors to the reserve can observe nocturnal animals during their active hours. Volunteers are needed to assist the Israel Nature & Parks Authority (NPA) staff with its daily work and further enrichment projects at the Predators & Visitors Centers.

volunteers will work with the NPA staff at the Predators & Visitors centers. Duties include: feeding animals and cleaning habitats, maintenance work, observation and data collection, field work and constructing enrichment facilities.

Yotvata Hai-Bar (Wildlife Preserve) is situated on Route 90 (Dead Sea-Eilat) between Kibbutz Yotvata and Kibbutz Samar, about 35 kilometers north of Eilat.

Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.

International volunteers will stay in basic shared apartment next to the Hai-Bar.  Apartment includes: rooms suited for 4-6 people, bunk beds, bathroom, shower, and fully equipped kitchen.

€150 to be paid on arrival.

The beginning of the project includes a 2 day orientation and preparation seminar in Tel Aviv. This project does not include food, around 5 Euros per day is estimated for each volunteer to purchase food at the local market.