CLOSING OF THE 2025 HUMANITARIAN GAP YEAR: FOUR MONTHS OF SERVICE AND LEARNING IN ISRAEL
November marked the conclusion of the 2025 Humanitarian Hajshará, where 68 young participants from the Bekeff program in Mexico, San Diego, and Panama completed four months of training and volunteer work in Israel. This group arrived during a challenging period for the country and responded with exceptional commitment, becoming a source of support for deeply affected communities.
During their time in Israel, they carried out multiple volunteer activities:
- Agricultural volunteering in the south, supporting farmers facing severe labor shortages.
- Sorting and distributing food to vulnerable families through local partnerships.
- Psychosocial support in communities affected by October 7, such as Holit, Nahal Oz, and Netiv HaAsara, offering activities for children, resilience workshops, and emotional support spaces.
- Preparation and logistics of humanitarian kits including hygiene supplies, educational materials, and basic aid.
- Work with schools and community centers, decorating shared spaces, leading educational activities, and creating safe environments for children and teenagers.
- Community volunteer days, helping rehabilitate public spaces and organize donations.
Beyond fieldwork, participants experienced a comprehensive educational process. They attended weekly classes on humanitarian action, risk reduction, and psychological first aid, as well as practical workshops led by CADENA experts and partner organizations. They visited communities, met with survivors, took cultural tours in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the southern part of the country, and engaged in artistic activities, leadership talks, and activities that strengthened both their social awareness and their understanding of the Israeli context.
The program’s closing ceremony included an emotional moment where participants shared their insights, experiences, and the impact they had lived through during their time in Israel. They now return to their home countries equipped with humanitarian tools and the deep conviction that solidarity is built in a chain.
