What to expect upon return
The summer abroad is not an isolated experience. Volunteer Summer participants continue to meet regularly over the course of the year and develop the tools to integrate the lessons of the summer into life at home and on campus. Participants attend two trainings—in August and in late winter—and use listserves and online tools to develop and hone the skills learned in the field. The domestic component of the program also includes consistent volunteer service throughout the year, which can include a wide array of activities from direct service in volunteers' home communities to advocacy.
Throughout the year, participants will have the opportunity to:
- Teach—by blogging and publishing articles, speaking publicly, developing a photo display or creating an educational program
- Advocate—by lobbying Congressional representatives regarding AJWS's advocacy issues and mobilizing their communities to support
- Give (tzedekah)—by fundraising to support AJWS and the work of our project partners around the globe
- Learn—by attending Volunteer Summer retreats in August and late winter, engaging with resources shared online and through AJWS e-mails, and incorporating global, grassroots and human rights perspectives into your academic coursework
- Serve—by volunteering at least once a month with an organization that addresses local or international issues
- Spend—by mobilizing your community to practice ethical consumption
AJWS makes available small grants and other resources to support participant-initiated projects during the domestic component of the program.
* Please note that studying abroad in the year following AJWS Volunteer Summer will not prohibit your participation in the program. Participants can engage in most aspects of domestic programming while overseas.
Volunteer Testimonial
Amy Randel explains how Jewish service learning in India impacted her leadership at Oregon State University.
