Israel

Our last full operated activity was the day of higher education event, which took place in Tura'an high school, and meant to bring information for high school students about planning the academic studies in a better way.

The municipality of Raanana realize and take part in lots of projects, whose lots of them participate to the cultural stimulation of our territory.
One of them is related to the ALF (and we would like to do more like it), we have the project to realize and to develop the Festival Sete Sóis Sete Luas in Raanana (and maybe to extend it to other regions). This project is based on the artistic mobility. So, during the Festival in Raanana, we welcome artists who are part of our Cultural network (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Morocco and maybe this year Tunisia) and we are sending artists from our region to play in these countries. There are, as well, other projects, like the creation of Mediterranean orchestra. It is a very rich project for our citizens.

Muntada’s Main Programs for 2010
• School Education Program: this project focuses on developing appropriate, culturally-sensitive school curricula in sexuality education and training of professionals for working with students and their parents, as well as enriching parents with tools to improve communication with their children in this sensitive domain, and provide students with skills to make their own healthy decisions and protect themselves from potentially harmful sexual practices.
• Sexual Health Promotion through Community Outreach Programs: this project focuses on raising awareness regarding sexual health and rights through community workshops with various groups of all ages and both genders, as well as the creation of a space where the community can access accurate information and services related to sexuality. It is worth mentioning that a large part of the workshops are based on the participatory approach, that is, the active involvement of all the participants through interaction, expressing their views to others and free-open discussions with others in the group. Muntada’s website plays a major role in providing this accurate information, counseling on line, and professional advice to all educators and professionals who access the website and ask for assistance
• Advanced Professional Training on Sexuality Education and Sexual Health: Muntada conducts two advanced training courses (112 hours) every year. Every year, at least 36 professionals graduate from this course.
• Continuous Professional Supervision and Training for Staff members and Volunteers: Continuous professional training and supervision takes place for Muntada’s staff members and volunteers. In this regard, the sessions with Mr. Mustafa Shala’tah, a prominent psychologist, will continue to be held every three weeks to support the trainers and facilitators in their field work

Main activities:
Up until now the group had several official meetings in Jordan, Israel and Sinai - Egypt, recorded original songs in Hebrew and Arabic, participated in some radio interviews and articles around the globe, performed in front of diverse audiences around the Middle East and gave several workshops in Jordan and Israel. The group just returned from a performance in Amman Jordan at the URI 10th anniversary celebration.
Each Musaique meeting takes place in a different spot around the region. In the meetings, the core group is interwoven with the local community, getting inspiration from the roots of the land and its people. The group's work is a fusion of Ancient Sacred music and prayers with old and new musical instruments and genres, forming a new musical language.
we are learning from the different cultures of each other and sharing discussions about our conflicts, history and future.

NUIS has significant accomplishments in the Israeli public sphere. In 2006 it successfully fought against an increase in tuition fees. A year later, NUIS initiated, promoted, and supported the Students Rights Law, which was passed in the Knesset. The law was created to protect student's rights in areas such as equal opportunity in the acceptance to academic programs, regardless of religion, race, gender, and physical disabilities. NUIS consistently addresses and takes steps to promote campus-based environmental issues and prevent sexual harassment. In 2012, NUIS was one of the principal groups behind the social protests protesting the Israeli high cost of living. Following this campaign, NUIS made ‘social impact’ an organizational priority, encouraging students to continue to be involved in national concerns and in civic engagement initiatives.
Re:Lod - In March 2012 NUIS launched Project Re:Lod. Sixty young activists moved to Lod and dedicated themselves to remaking one of Israel's most challenged cities into an innovative model of civic engagement. The main objectives of Re:Lod are: to foster mutual responsibility among the diverse residents of the city with an emphasis on youth; to increase the level of education and engender an interest in hobbies among the high school students participating in after-school activities; to change the Israeli perception of Lod by rebranding it as a center of civic activism and an ideal location for young people to live and raise their families.
Today, with 250 young volunteers and 80 program graduates who have chosen to live their lives in Lod, together with additional partners, NUIS is proud to be in the initial stages of replicating this successful model in Tzfat and Kiryat Shmona.
LETS - In recent decades we have been witnessing an intensification of a tendency toward self-imposed segregation in Israeli society – more and more the various ethnic groups are isolating themselves and distinguishing their identity apart from the Israeli collective.
To help combat these destructive developments, NUIS has developed an educational program –Learning for an Equal and Tolerant Society (LETS), that will promote tolerance and multicultural understanding for Jerusalem-based high-school students, working in conjunction with professionals from the Jerusalem Municipality’s Education Authority Division and other. The program will be implemented by students from Jerusalem-based academic institutions, who will design and moderate the workshop sessions in the high schools, serving as role models in the process.

We hold that meeting the people at the heart of the debate face to face is an instrumental experience towards changing the way people think and dispelling the myths and prejudices. Through our many local community-based activities such as joint celebrations of religious holidays, cultural evenings and activity days in Bedouin villages, we hope to open a dialogue between the Bedouin and Jewish citizens in the Negev and Israel towards cultural coexistence and respect. These opportunities allow individuals to share values and live together. In addition, we heighten local, domestic and international awareness through the internet, printed materials, protests, art exhibitions and shadow reports to the United Nations regarding the implementation of various international human rights instruments (such as ICERD, ICCPR and ICESCR.

NISPED's Arab Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation (AJEEC) works with Jewish and Arab populations to create a more just Israel in which both populations will enjoy equal civil and human rights. AJEEC works in four fields running tens of projects: Community Empowerment, Economic Development, Health Promotion, and Arab-Jewish Cooperation. Examples include the Arab Bedouin Volunteer Center (700 volunteers), Parents as Partners – Mother led quality day care, Early Childhood Resource and Training Center, the Community Health Promotion Program for Arab Bedouin Women and Children, and the Arab-Jewish Volunteer year Program .

The CLD co-organizes seminars between Jews and Palestinian Arabs, sharing and discussing cultural, religious and political themes. In focus of most programs are either women empowerment, youth support or cultural activities.

The Organization is working at basic in Youth Exchanges Activities , Participating in International Seminars , The Organization got around 10 dance groups (folklore Dabka Dance ) Which take part every year in International Festivals\Carnivals , Schools take part in a “ Bedouin day Activities “ Which is a Workshops – Include tour in the bedouin Museum & the Galleries .

Inspiring Social Initiative: We encourage creative social activism by educating Israelis about the astonishing work of ordinary citizens, leaders, and professionals from every cultural and religious sector. Throughout the year, we award activists in the areas of equality, social services, and tolerance. We have granted awards for projects like: philanthropic medical advancements, nationwide programs for values, and more. Awardees are recognized at national ceremonies and widely publicized in the media – Israelis learn that every individual can create new solutions for a better country. Objective: To research and identify outstanding social activists; to present them to the Israeli community through the media and in national award ceremonies.

Acceptance and Tolerance / Sports: Too often, contention – even hatred – comes to the fore in Israel’s sports arenas and playing fields. Fist fights and name-calling overwhelm games in both national and youth leagues. Ironically, sports are often valued for their encouragement of social values, teamwork, and acceptance. Our sports and values project reverses that irony through publicity, lectures, and workshops that encourage values in the arena. Sports permeates a great part of Israeli society. Better values for hundreds of thousands of sports fans can significantly affect our entire society. Objective:To hold workshops and lectures for youth and adults, and advertise for better sports values.

Social Values Education: The greatest potential for social change rests in our young generation. Our high school curriculum for social values is authorized by the Ministry of Education and makes social justice relevant for Israeli teens. Each year, we train teachers in a new group of target cities, creating a new youth culture for an Israel of equality and justice. Objective: We will collaborate with five Israeli municipalities for teacher training throughout the city or town. 

Arts, Culture, Values: Our annual arts program gives thousands of Israeli youth a platform for social commentary through the creative arts. Each year, thousands of high school students participate in a program that encourages social values through artistic mediums: film, photography, creative writing, and more. The program culminates in a competition that is judged by artists and social leaders. Outstanding finalists are presented to the Israeli public. Objective: We will publicize and facilitate a nationwide competition for thousands of youth. Finalists will be presented at the Tel Aviv Cinemateque.

Leadership Accountability: For 25 years, we have held government leadership accountable to civic values and laws. We investigate and bring corrupt politics to light, prosecuting and often achieving accountability (incarceration, fines). As corruption is eradicated, Israelis call for better leadership, true leaders step forward. In 2017 we will implement this program on the municipal level where the absence of accountability and transparency is even more extreme than on the national level. Objective: We will initiate a process of investigation and response to reports of municipal corruption. Our legal and social activists will work to develop better laws and infrastructure for transparency.