Before the end of 2023, 37 organizations will be sponsoring 4,400 young Jews to engage in meaningful Jewish volunteering across 33 countries, thanks to a $3.8M dollar investment by Mosaic United’s Shalom Corps.
In June, Shalom Corps announced two different requests for proposals for Global Immersive Service Programs and Heritage Initiatives. Fifty-two organizations submitted applications for funding.
Maria Youssim, Director of Shalom Corps, remarked, “We are truly enthusiastic about the number of organizations which are passionate about creating a global movement of Jewish volunteers dedicated to repairing the world – aspiring for lasting impact on both the volunteers and the beneficiaries.”
Global Immersive Service grants totaled $3 million dollars. These programs provide meaningful volunteering journeys assisting vulnerable populations around the globe, which connect volunteers to each other while strengthening their Jewish identities. Organizations who have been awarded grants for Global Immersive Service include Hashomer Hatzair, OU Relief Missions, HaShomer HaHadash, Habonim Dror, Hatzalah United of Israel, Project TEN, and others.
Heritage Initiative grants amount to $800K. Funded initiatives preserve sites of importance to Jewish life in small communities, resulting in strengthening the history and present of Jewish communities around the world as well as the identities of the volunteers. Grant awardees include Camp Ramah, BBYO, Hillel Russia and Belarus, and Kulna Morocco.
Volunteers recruited through Global and Heritage are Jews aged 16 to 40 from around the world. Programs must feature at least 25 hours of volunteering per week and 8 hours of Jewish learning and reflection. Programs must also be at least one week in duration, and no more than six weeks in the case of Global and 10 days in the case of Heritage.
Shalom Corps is growing a global Jewish volunteer movement which is engaging thousands of young Jews in authentic, needs-driven service, which has a transformative impact on the populations served as well as the young Jews making a difference. Shalom Corps is sponsored by Mosaic United and the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.