Israel

Cranbrook

Volunteerism:
A Commitment

ASSOCIATES, INC

GAIL LICHTMAN
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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REALTORS

With the limitations of the wel-
fare state a hot topic of debate in
both the United States and Eu-
rope, there have been increasing
calls for voluntary organizations
to take up where government
leaves off.
In 1981, Israel, which has an
outstanding tradition of volun-
teerism, set up a mandatory pro-
gram for volunteerism in Israel's
high schools. Beginning with 33
schools, the Personal Commit-
ment Program has grown to in-
dude more than 250 schools
nationwide, including both secu-
lar and religious schools.
The Israel Voluntary Services
organization lists some 250 vol-
untary organizations operating
in the country, with more than
50,000 Israelis (out of a popula-
tion of 5 million), or about 25 per-
cent of those over the age of 16,
engaged in some form of volun-
teerism. These organizations run
the gamut from an AIDS Task
Force to Zahavi, an organization
aimed at helping large families;
from immigrant absorption, child
welfare, senior citizens, health
and the disabled, to soldiers' wel-
fare, quality of life and security.
The goal of the one-year Per-
sonal Commitment Program is
to strengthen the link between
youth and the community by
making participants in the pro-
gram aware of the needs of the
community and their responsi-
bility to it. Once a high school de-
cides to be a part of the program,
it becomes a requirement of the
school.
Most schools choose to imple-
ment the program in the 10th
grade. The ministry provides spe-
cial training for program coordi-
nators and supplies a wealth of
workbooks and other materials,
including videos, simulation
games, role playing, etc., to help
the students cope with their vol-
unteering.
Leyada School in Jerusalem
chose to implement the program
in the ninth grade. The majority
of students work with the elder-
ly and a good number work with
the handicapped or with disad-
vantaged children. Those who
have difficulty handling emo-
tional stress can do volunteer
work in, say, the botanical gar-
dens or one of the country's hos-
pitals.
Some of those working with
the elderly have to face debili-
tating illness and death. Ela Ay-
alon started helping an elderly
man in his 80s. Shortly after she
began her weekly home visits, he
became very ill and had to be hos-
pitalized. 0

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