Masa Israel Teaching Fellows Applications Open for 2016 - 2017 School Year
An opportunity for aspiring educators and social workers to gain global experience and perspective while bridging the education gap in Israel
NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Masa Israel Journey, is now accepting applications for the 2016-2017 Masa Israel Teaching Fellows (MITF) program. Next year, the fellowship will have more spaces available in its youth village track, which places Fellows in boarding schools for immigrant and at-risk youth. The program will also build upon its coexistence initiatives by expanding to the city of Nazareth and its surrounding communities in the lower Galilee, as well as placing Fellows in Arab schools in the mixed city of Lod.
The 10-month service-learning fellowship for high-achieving Jewish college graduates ages 21 to 30 allows young professionals to gain international teaching and social work experience in Israel. As most Israeli universities require high English proficiency for admission, knowledge of the English language is a key social mobility indicator in Israeli society. Fellows work in underserved elementary and middle school classrooms throughout Israel and support full time teachers in improving students' English learning outcomes.
Since Fellows live in the areas where they work, these young professionals fully integrate into the Israeli communities they serve. Participants in the program live in Israel like real locals.
"The program leverages Israel's strong history as context for a learning-centered experience, enabling young Jewish adults to explore their passion for education while making a real difference in narrowing Israel's educational achievement gap in underserved communities," said Liran Avisar, Chief Executive Officer of Masa Israel Journey.
"I give back my time because we're here and it's our job as members of society to try and give back as much as possible," Corinne Gracyalny, 25, a current Fellow in Netanya explained. "If I can help my kids feel more confident speaking English, that's what matters."
Since its inaugural session in 2011-2012, 672 Jewish young adults from the United States, Canada, England, South Africa and Australia have served as Masa Israel Teaching Fellows. The Fellowship has expanded from five cities to thirteen cities across Israel including Ashdod, Be'er Sheva, Beit Shean, Migdal HaEmek, Nazareth, Netanya, Petach Tikvah, Rahat, Ramle, Lod, Rehovot, Rishon Lezion and Youth Villages.
Masa Israel Teaching Fellows is a competitive program with only 210 spots available for the 2016-2017 school year. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Please visit http://israelteachingfellows.org/apply to apply and learn more.
MITF is a joint initiative of the Israeli Ministry of Education, Masa Israel Journey, and The Jewish Agency for Israel. Masa Israel Journey is a project of the Government of Israel and the Jewish Agency for Israel and is made possible through the generous contributions of the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod-UIA.
Visit www.MasaIsrael.org for more information.
SOURCE Masa Israel Journey
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