At the beginning of the month, the first conference of the “Shnat Sherut 50 Plus: The Year of Service for Adults” initiative was held. The conference served as a milestone marking the conclusion of the program’s first year of activity and brought together volunteers who had completed their year of service alongside participants currently in the midst of their ongoing volunteer year.
The gathering marked a significant stage in the establishment of a unique model for community engagement in later life and provided an opportunity for knowledge sharing, learning from field experience, and forward-looking discussion on the continued development and expansion of the program.
A Year of Service – Also for Older Adults
The “Shnat Sherut 50 Plus: The Year of Service for Adults” initiative offers a structured year of volunteering for individuals aged 55 and over who wish to take a break from their personal or professional routines and dedicate a year to meaningful community service.
Participants are professionals with rich life and professional experience, operating according to their skills in fields such as care, social work, education, community work, senior welfare, and the realization of social and civil rights. The program includes living within the community, integration into local frameworks, and designated days for learning and enrichment.
Field Activity and Community Strengthening
Since September 2024, volunteer groups have been active in communities in the Western Negev and the North, including regional councils, community settlements, and the Adi Negev Rehabilitation Village. The volunteering is carried out in cooperation with local authorities and host communities and is tailored to local needs identified on the ground.
During the first year of activity, the volunteering concluded with a high level of satisfaction among both the volunteers and the hosting authorities and organizations. In several locations, there has already been interest expressed in continuing similar models of collaboration in the coming years.
Partnership and Professional Support
The initiative began as a local, grassroots effort led by ANOBANO (R.A.) and Beit Midrash Elul, and later expanded into a broader initiative with the joining of additional partners. Today, partners in the initiative include JDC–ESHEL, the Class Action Lawsuit Fund, the Dalia and Eli Hurvitz Foundation, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions – Tekuma Administration, and the Emunah Movement.
As part of this partnership, the JDC contributes systemic thinking, professional guidance, and infrastructure for long-term development and implementation, based on a vision that views adult volunteering as a significant driver of community resilience and the deepening of civic engagement.
The summary conference marked an important milestone in the process and another key step in the evaluation and continued development of a dedicated volunteering model for the older adult population in Israel.
