Service Learning
AJWS believes that volunteering is best accompanied by learning, reflection and personal growth. We also believe that as part of becoming effective social change makers, fellows should reflect on their strengths as individuals, as well as understand the importance of building relationships with others to impact change. World Partners Fellowship therefore situates the individual volunteer placements within a broader framework of a peer-learning community.
It is through the following components that WPF seeks to enhance fellows' volunteer experience and prepare fellows to engage in social change upon their return.
Orientation
Prior to their nine months of service, fellows attend a month-long orientation and language exposure in their country of service. Topics addressed at orientation include:
- Introduction to AJWS's mission and strategies;
- Navigating cross-cultural issues at work and beyond;
- Skills for being an effective volunteer;
- Health, Safety and security;
- Jewish values and global justice;
- Regional social, political and economic context;
- Development issues in the region and AJWS's regional development strategies;
- Introduction to partner NGO and joint training on successful volunteering;
- Language classes to enhance existing language skills or provide initial exposure to a new language.
Midpoint Retreat
During volunteer placements, fellows attend a mid-point retreat that includes:
- Individual and group reflection about their experiences volunteering;
- Skills-building workshops that enhance what they already bring to their volunteer placements;
- Educational seminars about regional development issues;
- A study of connections between Jewish values, traditions and social justice work in a pluralistic environment;
Closing retreat
After completing their volunteer service, fellows attend a closing retreat which provides returning fellows with:
- A frame for understanding how their experiences fit into the context of AJWS's vision of social change;
- Tools for processing and acting on experiences and lessons learned during their term of service;
- Skills for raising awareness and popular education;
- Mentoring and guidance around how to lead lives with continued commitment to social change in personal and/or professional realms.
