Partnership 2000 Beit Shemesh Yehuda Plains works toward the strengthening of ties with the Jewish communities of the Partnership - Washington and South Africa - through the advancement of joint projects in education, economic development, and social and community welfare. Each year, the Gesher Lekesher program brings together hundreds of participants in Israel and in the Diaspora. The volunteer apartment project brings dozens of volunteers to Israel from Washington and South Africa. This is a rare opportunity for volunteers to benefit the community and themselves and to gain a real and personal familiarity with the residents of Beit Shemesh-Yehuda Plains.

  
Carlie, Lisa, Tamar and Arik from the greater Washington DC area chose the Otzma program which brings dozens of young university graduates from North America to Israel for a one-year program that combines the study of Hebrew, Judaism and Zionism with volunteer work in the community. As part of the program, the four will devote about three months (November-February) to volunteer work in the city while living in our volunteer apartment.

Four families from Beit Shemesh and Yehuda Plains - the Ganot, Israel, Tzaban and Keykov families - have joined the effort to absorb the volunteers in the Region and have been helping them out since their arrival in Israel. The adopting families and the volunteers recently spent their first weekend together in the Region.

The expectations and excitement were high both among the families and the volunteers. The weekend turned out to be an especially enjoyable family experience. For Brenda and Steve Ganot, this is not the first time that they are hosting Otzma volunteers in their home.  We have very pleasant memories of our experiences together and the personal ties that were created. So we didn't hesitate in immediately joining the program this time. We are very happy to welcome Tamar to our family and we will do all we can to make her really feel at home.

Babi Keykov adds:  The connection between Lisa and the girls was immediate. They love her and feel that she is their big sister. We are looking forward to them coming to the Region for an extended period.

The four volunteers, together with the rest of the program participants, are currently at Kfar Silver in the South of the country. They are learning Hebrew in an ulpan and are being trained in various aspects of education and being a counselor.

Recently, a tour was organized in order to introduce the particpants to Partnership 2000 and the volunteer possibilities in the Region. At the Adihu Elementary School, they met the pupils in Grade 1 and sat in on an English lesson. At the Branco Weiss High School, they met with participants in the Atidim program which works to empower high-quality youth in the Periphery. The principal of the school welcomed the volunteers and spoke about the importance of their work to the school. The volunteers visited other locations where they will be working, including the Lemitnadev Center, which runs study and enrichment groups for children from underprivileged families; the Open Door organization, moadonits and libraries in the city.

The little time between one visit and the next was devoted to an ethnic meal at the home of Osnat Moshe of Moshav Ajur. Sitting in her garden, one couldn't help but be impressed by the authenticity of the Kurdish traditions that have been preserved over time. Osnat's warm hospitality made the volunteers even more impatient for the start of the program in the Region.

As the start of the program approaches, there is increasing interest among various organizations and institutions to integrate the volunteers in their activity. We expect that the volunteer period will be very productive and that the volunteers will become closely familiar with individuals and groups in the Region.

Partnership 2000 welcomes the program participants and wishes them a very enjoyable and productive stay.