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

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.

The Fauzi Azar house is a beautiful 300 year old Ottoman building that was converted into an inn in 2005. The Fauzi Azar Inn promotes ecotourism in Nazareth and works with the community to contribute to its development in various areas. The inn uses local resources to create new work places, to raise the self-image of the local community, and to encourage economic growth while preserving the universal values of natural and cultural preservation. The aim is to introduce in Nazareth, which is the largest Arab city in Israel, a new model of tourism and thus "bridge the gap" between Arabs and Jews.

volunteers will help restore neglected parts of the old city of Nazareth together with the local community. Duties include: painting doors in the old city to create a clean, friendly atmosphere and planting gardens on top of pavilions to return their unique appearance.

Nazareth is situated in the mountainous Galilee region of northern Israel approximately 102 km north of Tel Aviv and 40 km east of Haifa.

Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.

Volunteers will stay at the beautiful Fauzi Azar Inn in a dormitory room suitable for 5 people. Volunteers may use the inn’s kitchen facilities to cook breakfast and dinner.

€150 to be paid on arrival.

The beginning of the project includes a 2 day orientation and preparation in Tel Aviv. This project doesn't 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.

Baladna and Nazareth Municipality.

Nazareth, famous as the home town of Jesus, is today a city offering visitors a wealth of important religious and historic sites combined with the attractions of a thriving modern Arab city. There are 75,000 people living in Nazareth and is considered the largest Arab city in Israel. The Old Market, the historic heart of the Old City is still a thriving modern market (souk), however due to several reasons it is no longer as it use to be (centre of the Galilee).

www.nazarethinfo.org

The workcamp will take place at the Old city of Nazareth and the participants will be involved in cleaning, renovating, painting, drawing and decorating empty spaces at the Old city. At the same time they will experience the lives of the local inhabitants.

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 public building at the old city.

180 Euros to be paid upon arrival.

Wadi Al Nisnas is the oldest and largest Palestinian Arab neighbourhood in Haifa is considered to be one of the very few reminders and proofs of Arab existence in the city as some 70,000 of its inhabitants were displaced during al Nakba of 48 and only 2,000 of them have managed to stay there since then.
The city of Haifa, generally, lost a lot of its Arab hue since al Nakba; whole Arab neighbourhoods were demolished, houses and other private properties were confiscated, even Islamic Waqf properties were confiscated and the sanctity of holy places was violated through the reconstruction of cemeteries into parking lots and public services centres. Nowadays, Haifa’s Arab inhabitants constitute one of the biggest communities in Palestine 48. Some 50,000 Arab inhabitants now reside there. However, these numbers are not revealed in official Israeli statistical documents. Haifa’s Arab inhabitants try to protect their existence and well being as Palestinian Arabs, they try as well to revive the Arab Haifa and maintain their national Arab Palestinian identity to challenge the Israeli policy to Judaize the city and erase their existence there.

Volunteers will work mainly at the new Baladna Youth Centre which is situated at Wadi Al Nisnas neighbourhood, the work will consist in renovation, painting, drawing, gardening and decorating the internal and external walls and surrounding of the centre.

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.

At the Baladna youth centre.

180 Euros to be paid upon arrival.