Programs

Israeli Arab Empowerment

One of main emphases in recent years is developing professional knowledge and skills in all sectors of Arab society. Givat Haviva places particular emphasis on empowering community workers, civil servants, women, and young adults, with the goal of strengthening the foundations of democracy and facilitating social change in Israeli Arab villages and cities. The UJA-Federation of NYC, MEPI (Middle East Partnership Initiative) at the US Embassy in Israel, the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, and others, have supported these Arab empowerment efforts.

Courses for community leaders and municipal workers
A series of courses and programs at Givat Haviva aimed at empowering community leaders, treasurers, financial officers, and other municipal workers have recently been awarded grants from UJA-Fed. of NYC and MEPI. These courses focus on improving the professional administration of Arab municipalities, boosting their efficiency and raising the quality of services provided to the local constituents.

Professional courses include:

• Educational leadership;
• Women's leadership and management;
• Training of public relations officials (aimed, among other things, at changing the often-slanted presentation of the Arab in the Israeli media);
• Human resources and financial growth;
• Training advisors to Arab mayors on women-related issues and concerns.

Young leadership
Now in its third year, a unique project in Arab high schools and in major Israeli universities focuses on nurturing young leadership, strengthening the commitment of Arab youth to responsible citizenship, and raising their awareness of social problems within their communities. The young adults are taught group leadership and communication skills; they learn to spot problems, and to develop their own social projects.