Shaping the future

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A dynamic new forum for young Australian Jews will help re-imagine the future of Australia’s Jewish community.LaunchPad is a first-time platform to mobilise young Jews from across the country, starting with a special leadership retreat in Victoria.

Registration is now open at www.launchpadoz.org for the 2014 LaunchPad Retreat, which will take place over three days in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria on 18^th to 20^th May and successful applicants will be significantly sponsored to attend.

The retreat follows a highly successful one-day gathering in August, 2012 organised by Australian Jewish Funders (AJF) in partnership with ROI Community, an international network of activists and change makers who are redefining Jewish engagement for a new generation of global citizens. ROI Community is part of the Schusterman Philanthropic Network.

LaunchPad is part of ROI Community’s commitment to empower Jewish young adults around the world to create change for themselves and their communities. Locally, the program is sponsored by AJF Innovation, an initiative of the Australian Jewish Funders (AJF), a network for Jewish philanthropists promoting strategic and effective giving, as well as JCA (NSW), the communal fundraiser and planner for the NSW and ACT Jewish Community. Together, these organisations are making it a top priority to invest in the future of Jewish life in Australia, and LaunchPad will help realise that vision and will connect vibrant young Jews from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds from across Australia.

The retreat will feature workshops and seminars for young Jewish activists from Victoria, New South Wales and other Australian states, providing a forum to network and gain skills to create Jewish engagement programs for the entire community.

Applications for the LaunchPad Retreat close on March 27^th 2014.

“LaunchPad is looking for those young adults in our communities who have the passion and inspiration to help our community evolve and flourish,” said Tracie Olcha, Executive Officer of the Australian Jewish Funders. “What makes this event different from any other gathering in Australia, is the fact that the focus is the participants and their potential to bring change to Jewish life in Australia”.

Launchpad’s target market is members of the community aged between 21-40.