Introduction
On the morning of October 7th 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel with a massive and continuous barrage of rocket fire, in an unusual scope, of thousands of rockets and mortar bombs on large areas of Israel, especially in the south and center. Under the auspices of the barrages, land, air and sea infiltration of about 3,000 terrorists
took place into Israeli territory on a front of about 60 km. The terrorists launched attacks and took over IDF bases and outposts and gun battles with the security forces, simultaneously with infiltration into civilian settlements, their occupation, attacking them, kidnapping and murdering their residents.
In the attack, approximately 1,145 Israelis and foreigners were murdered and killed, most of them civilians, and more than 1,941 were injured, including approximately 360 in critical condition. Several dozen citizens from foreign countries were also murdered.
As part of the attack, the massacre at the "Festival Nova" nature party near Kibbutz Ra'im also took place, which was the largest single terrorist attack in the history of the State of Israel.
During the attack, many civilians were murdered and kidnapped, including women, children, and the elderly, all while being physically, mentally, and sexually abused.
253 people, including foreign citizens, Israelis and IDF soldiers, including babies, children, women and the elderly, were abducted to the Gaza Strip. Much damage was caused in the area surrounding Gaza – 22 Kibbutzim were hit and 8 of them severely damaged.
As part of the widespread attack against the civilian population, Hamas committed war crimes, and crimes against humanity on a large scale, which were claimed to have amounted to genocide. With the return of control of the Israeli settlements to the IDF after about 48 hours, and the capture of the last terrorists who had infiltrated Israel, on October 12, 5 days after the start of the attack.
This is the deadliest attack by a terrorist organization in the history of the State of Israel. Following the attack, the State of Israel went to the "Iron Swords" war. These days, more the 40,000 kibbutz residence from 50 Kibbutzim (from South and North) and are displaced in the own country, the Kibbutz Movement is engaged in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of these kibbutzim with volunteers from all over Israel and the world.
To this end, we opened the KPC "Embracing Kibbutz" project. We wish to invite volunteers from all over the world to take part in the project and help those affected communities to restore their homes.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Project terms/conditions:
- Age limit: Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 can volunteer. This is of course if you are in good health (you will be required to provide medical information)
- The volunteering period: There is a possibility to volunteer with a tourist visa for the first 30 days of your stay in Israel. You can volunteer with us from 7 days up to 30 days (provided you start on the same day you arrive). For example, if you entered Israel and decided to travel for a period of 7 days before the start of volunteering, then you can volunteer for a period of up to 23 days only.
Medical insurance: You are obliged to have medical insurance through the KPC office while you are volunteering in the Kibbutz.
The cost of the insurance is as follow:
Initial payment $40 for all volunteers – will be made after a kibbutz placement is approved by the KPC office. This payment is an administration fee + payment for insurance for up to seven days. If you intend to volunteer at the kibbutz for more than 7 days - each additional day will cost $4.50, and the payment will be made together with the initial payment. For example, if you intend to volunteer for 11 days, the payment will be:
40+(4.5X4) = $58 Payment will be made in advance via a PayPal link.
What will you receive?
- Free accommodation - Please note - the residence will be shared residence, in the children's homes of the kibbutz. You will have to share the living space, toilets and showers with other volunteers.
- Meals - the meals will be at a subsidized price in the Kibbutz. (In some kibbutzim, volunteers will receive a hot lunch)
In each Kibbutz there is a person that will be responsible for the volunteers (the volunteer coordinator). On the first day in the Kibbutz the volunteer coordinator meets the newly arrived volunteer, explains to them the daily routines and rules in the Kibbutz and takes them on a short tour around the Kibbutz.
Placement in a kibbutz is determined after confirmation of registration and after finding a kibbutz for the volunteer. Sometimes there will be a short meeting between the volunteer and the representative of the kibbutz or the KPC office.
Please note – the accommodation places in the Kibbutzim are very limited and there will not always be a free spot for your requested dates. Also, KPC reserves the right not to accept any candidate who registered for the program.
STEP BY STEP
Step 1 - Make sure that you fit the criteria 😊
- Age 18-60
- Reasonable English
- Good Health – mentally and physically
- Volunteering between 7 days to 30 days (counted from the day you land).
- Passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure! (end of volunteering)
Step 2 - The registration procedure Apply now - KPC "Embrace a Kibbutz" Project
The registration procedure includes these steps:
- Filling in personal information
- Attaching the following documents:
- An updated photo of your face.
- A scanned copy of your passport (the page with your picture)
- Volunteer's declaration form (The two pages must be uploaded as one PDF document)
- Medical form filled and signed by your Family Doctor (signature and stamp)
- Motivation Letter - What should appear in the motivation letter: What areas of volunteering interest you in terms of work places; animals, agriculture, environment, education or other
Step 3 - Short interview and placements
