Israeli year 10 students from the Arava visit Australia
Twelve Israeli students from the Acacia School in the small desert community in the Arava region arrived in Melbourne for a ten day visit as part of the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Partnership 2GETHER (P2G) program.
Arava students enjoy Melbourne
P2G is the global living bridge project aimed at connecting Israeli communities with Diaspora communities. The student delegation arrived in Melbourne on 21st July and were hosted by the Arava Australia Partnership, the ZFA as well as Bialik College in Melbourne.
Whilst home hospitality was warmly provided by Bialik College families, the young delegates enjoyed a comprehensive program introducing them to the Melbourne Jewish community and to Australia in general. The program included meeting students from Bialik College, Leibler Yavneh College, The King David School and Mount Scopus Memorial College in an interschool program. A highlight was a session at C-Care, an organisation that provides much needed food and social care for underprivileged Jewish people.
Arava Australia Partnership National Coordinator Stacy Hayman said: ‘Such partnerships are designed to allow for the development of personal relationships between Diaspora Jews and Israeli people and to be an educational tool in informing Jews about Israeli life, people and places, and to assist in sharing expertise regarding community-building and community development.”
The student exchange program also includes Australian students from Bialik College, Mount Scopus College and the King David School having the opportunity to spend time in the Arava region and stay with an Israeli family during their Year 10 Israel trips.
Arava students enjoy Melbourne
The Central Arava region was “adopted” by Australia as our partnership community in 1995. In addition to engagement of students, the Arava Australia Partnership projects include culinary, Agri-Science, the arts and education delegations
Since April 2014, the Arava Australia Partnership has been an affiliate of the Zionist Federation of Australia. The Australia Arava Partnership has been exchanging delegations of various types, to help strengthen the bond, create personal relationships and allow for the development and enrichment of both communities’ cultures.
Ginette Searle, ZFA Executive Director said; – “We look forward to expanding the partnership activities across Australia and continuing to enhance the connection between Australia and the Arava.”
Daniella Gozlan from Zionism Victoria in conjunction with the Australia Arava Partnership ran a scavenger hunt around Beth Weizmann Community Centre to learn about Jewish organisations housed in the centre.
Partnership2Gether (P2G), has, over the past 15 years, become the Jewish Agency for Israel’s most successful and effective model for creating enduring and meaningful partnerships between global Jewish communities and communities in Israel.
The participants visited Magen David Adom, WIZO, JNF, UIA and the Aliyah Centre. They were briefed about each organisations activities and were given the opportunity to ask questions. The students enjoyed meeting the community leaders from the various organisations and learning about the important role they all play in helping Israel.
