Jewish National Fund to Send Students to Israel This Winter to Encounter Eco-ZionismJewish National Fund Participants to be Part of JNF's First Joint Venture With Birthright Israel Jewish National Fund's (JNF) College Activists Department will be sponsoring a free tour throughout Israel called "Encounter Eco-Zionism", as part of a first-time joint venture with birthright israel, who's mission is to send youth to Israel who have never been or have never traveled on a peer trip. Approximately 40 participants between the ages of 18-26 from across the United States will be part of JNF's ten-day tour this January.  "Eco-Zionism is a physical connection to the land of Israel," says Mara Baylis, National Coordinator for JNF's College Activists Department. "Birthright israel was interested in adding our trip to their list of trip providers because it offers a different perspective than other more typical trips." JNF's "Encounter Eco-Zionism" trip actively educates students about ways to improve Israel's environment. In addition to touring Israel, student's will be working the land and learning about the environmental problems that affect Israel - such as the severe water crisis. Baylis continued, "Our goal on this trip, as with all of our programs, is to provide students with enough hands on experience and information so that they can take an active role in caring for Israel's environment from their own college campuses." Participants will travel throughout Israel to sites and places such as Jerusalem, the Galilee, Masada and Ein Gedi. In addition to these tourist sites, participants of "Encounter Eco-Zionism" will also be working the land on JNF's Campus Hill, an area designed by students, and lending a hand in JNF water-related projects at the Neve Ur Reservior and Besor River. JNF has continuously worked to send people, of all ages on trips such as the Israel Experience, Young Professionals Singles Tour, Canadian-American Active Retirees in Israel (CAARI) and through programs such as Plant Your Way to Israel. Now, by teaming up with birthright israel JNF can go one step further and send first-time visitors to Israel for free. "We are very excited to team with birthright israel on this project," says Baylis. "It is very special when you can offer people an opportunity they may have thought they could never experience due to the costs involved." Birthright israel is able to absorb traveling costs due to large monetary contributions from philanthropists, the government of Israel and various organizations. Participants of "Encounter Eco-Zionism" will be departing for Israel at the start of the New Year, Tuesday, January 2, 2001 and will be returning Sunday, January 14, 2001. A list of participants is attached and all participants will be available for interviews upon their return home.
For more information, or to contact Jewish National Fund, see their website at: www.jnf.org |
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