THE PROGRAM If you are between the ages of 18 and 35 can become a kibbutz volunteer. The kibbutz population accepts volunteers for a minimum period of two months and a maximum of six months. In the kibbutz, the volunteers live and breath the kibbutz atmosphere, and during their stay they benefit from many of the social and material advantages available. This is your opportunity to take part in the unique lifestyle of the kibbutz community which is found no where else in the world. The kibbutz population welcomes the volunteers in their home, and invites them to experience and partake in the daily life of the extraordinary kibbutz community. While living in the kibbutz, the volunteers are invited to take part in many of the social activities of the kibbutz. The kibbutz pub is available to the volunteers as well as the cinema showings. The gym, the tennis courts, the basket ball/ foot ball courts and the swimming pool are also open to the volunteers. In some kibbutzim, the volunteers are even invited to join the kibbutz basket ball/foot ball league team. The volunteers are invited to join the festivities in the kibbutz for occasions like Jewish Holy days, weddings and independence day' s celebrations. Apart from this, the young people of the kibbutz do their best to make the volunteers fell welcome. The volunteers work 8 hours a day 6 days a week. In return they are offered free accommodations in the kibbutz, 3 meals a day, free laundry service in the kibbutz's common laundry and pocket money each month. In addition to this, the kibbutz organizes tours for the volunteers Generally, the kibbutz offers work in three different categories: agriculture, tourism, the services and other kinds of work. The agricultural work branches are, needless to say, dependant on the seasons and not all kinds of agricultural work is available to the volunteers all year around. In addition, it is important to stress that some branches in the agriculture like for example the cow's shed, only accept volunteers that are willing to stay for longer than 3 months. The agricultural work branches in the kibbutz are very varied. They include work like fruit picking (bananas, avocados, dates, apples, oranges and more) work in green houses (tomatoes, potatoes and plants) work with the irrigation systems, fish and fishing (both ornamental fish and fish for food industry) chicken houses, turkey houses and egg incubators and working with the cows and the milking. Tourism is another work branch that the volunteers work in. The work in tourism include both helping out in guest houses, restaurants, nature sights, health spas and tourist shops. The volunteers help out where they are needed in all of these places. The services include work in the kitchen, the dinning room and in the laundry. Sometimes the volunteers work in the gardening, the metal workshop, the children's zoo, the children's houses, help in the kibbutz industry and in any other service related work branch in the kibbutz. Finally, it is important to stress that although the specific wishes of the volunteers are taken into serious consideration, it is the availability of the different work places that determines where the volunteers work. There are over 250 kibbutzim spread throughout Israel participating in this program. Since 1967 more than one hundred thousand kibbutz volunteers have arrived in Israel. Moreover, the number is still growing. As the volunteers contribute to the needs of the kibbutz, the kibbutz offers in return an exciting and unique working holiday experience. A holiday with the possibility to meet, live and work with both Israeli youngsters as well as with other kibbutz volunteers from countries and cultures from far and near. ON THE KIBBUTZ In each kibbutz, a volunteer leader is assigned to the volunteers. The volunteer leader is the volunteer's contact person in the kibbutz. He or she is in charge of the volunteers in the kibbutz and any request or problem that the volunteers might have they can turn to him. The first day in the kibbutz the volunteer leader meets with the newly arrived volunteers explaining to them the daily routines and rules in the kibbutz. The volunteers are taken on a short tour around the kibbutz and the different work branches are explained to them. The volunteers live in rooms with between 2 to 4 people in each room (depending on the kibbutz and the season). Six days a week the volunteers work 7-8 hours a day in the kibbutz. The work is dependent on the availability and the need of the kibbutz, but if possible, the volunteer leader is always willing to try to satisfy the individual requests of the volunteers. The volunteers receive three meals a day in the kibbutz. Every day around noon, the kibbutz population as well as the volunteers are served a hot, delicious and nutritious lunch in the common dinning room. In some kibbutzim the common dinning room serves only breakfast and lunch. In this case, the volunteers are provided with a small kitchen with cooking facilities and groceries to cook dinner for themselves. The volunteers then cook and eat together. Once a month, one-day outings are organized for the volunteers, and each three months a three-day tour is also arranged. The volunteers are free to use the sports facilities of the kibbutz and the swimming pool. In most kibbutzim, a pub and even a disco is arranged for the volunteers and the younger population. The kibbutz insures the volunteers with an ambulant health insurance through the kibbutz. For any situation that demands ambulant health treatment the volunteers can approach the kibbutz' doctor and or nurse. Each month the volunteers are given three free days. Together with the volunteer leader, the volunteers decide when to "use" the free days. An amount of approximately 80 US$ is given to the volunteers every month as pocket money. Upon arrival, the volunteers are asked to leave a deposit in the kibbutz (between 50 to 100 US$) as security against the kibbutz's belongings that the volunteers use during their stay. The deposit is returned to the volunteers after two months in the kibbutz. According to the law of the State of Israel, the volunteers need to change their visa status at the closest Ministry of Interior. This visa change costs 17 US$ and in most kibbutzim the money is returned to the volunteers after a period of two months. For the visa change, two passport photos are also required. After arriving at the kibbutz the volunteer leader helps the volunteers gain their three month volunteers visa. After this period the visa can be extended for another three month. HOW TO REGISTER Print out the enclosed form (4 pages) Fill in the Application form and Part 1 of the Medical Examination form Have a licensed physician fill in Part 2 of the Medical Examination form Send in the form with the registration fee of $190 (US Dollars) The registration fee can be paid by credit card, money order or bank check in US Dollars only. We will process your request and let you know in 21-30 days if your application has been accepted and if you can participate in the program If we decide, based on the information you sent us, that you do not have the necessary criteria to participate in the program, your registration fee will be refunded. Oranim Educational Initiatives is not required to inform you of the reasons behind declining your application. If you decide not to participate in this program, after you have sent in your registration form and fee, the payment is forfeit. Upon confirmation of participation, you will need to arrange transportation to Israel. At this time, we will provide you with information on your Kibbutz, including how to get there. Click here to download Application Forms.

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