Five years ago, we thought that it would be a great idea to send madrichim to SA to participate in the various Youth Movements during their summer machanot. Most of the acitivities of these Movements, climax during the summer vacations in the framework of large machanot. The machanot are all in the Cape at seaside sites and attract significant numbers of chanichim.

The Youth Movements we wanted to be linked to: Habonim Dror, Betar, Nezer (Reform) and Bnei Akiva.

The number of madrichim we have so far sent total about 30. However, due to budget restricitions, we have had to cut down to six madrichim during 2003, although the demand for P2K madrichim is for a far larger delegation.

We chose our madrichim from Beit Shemesh/Adulam through getting the word around and they have to have certain qualifications. English, experience in hadrachah, although not all have Youth Movement background, post matriculation and post army. We interview them, if possible, with a representative of the Youth Movements here in Israel, then they have to undergo a seminar in preparation. Before they leave, I invite them to my home for an evening of "gibush chevrati" and a briefing on the Jewish Community of South Africa.

This year, the group was especially successful and the Movements found that the Israeli madrichim, those from P2K and from the Jewish Agency added a most important dimension to the Israeli content of the machanot. We received excellent feedback from the madrichim and we hope that we will be able to continue with this project, which is in keeping with the spirit of People to People and building bridges, which is one of the aims of Partnershiop 2000.

Shvat 5764 - February 2004