Source: eJewish Philanthropy
eJewish Philanthropy writes about the Israel leg of the Future Leaders Program. The Ministry of Information and the Diaspora, in conjunction with World ORT and Stephen Muss, launched a new project this year aimed at inspiring and nurturing the next generation of leadership for local Jewish communities across Europe and the Former Soviet Union. An initial cohort of 32 students, representing 18 countries and between 15 and 18 years old, was selected based on the quality of their applications and the dedication that they had already demonstrated to their schools and in their Jewish communities.
The programs’ aim is to nurture their leadership potential and to help them to become fully involved in their communities, dedicating their energy, enthusiasm, and skills towards building long-term, sustainable change – helping to revitalize Jewish life and to actively contribute to the ‘renaissance’ of Diaspora Jewry in the 21st century.
The accepted applicants met online every 3-4 weeks throughout the program for training, to discuss issues relevant to their personal development and to the improvement of their individual Jewish communities.
The Future Leaders also gathered in London for a five-day seminar in April. The main objectives for the participants included building a support system with one another in order to strengthen their leadership skills and to establish a strong international network.
During the months following the Seminar, each of the participants worked for a Jewish communal organization in their local area alongside a professional who acted as their mentor. This experience will be documented in individual blogs that the participants are encouraged to share with one another.
The three-week summer program in Israel was designed to build on both the foundations laid in London and the online seminars. The Future Leaders participated in classes on developing leadership skills and traveled to many of the historical and cultural sites throughout Israel.