The "Young Leadership" program began in Beit Shemesh in May, 1999. About 30 people began a five-week course, with a facilitator, Giora Inbar, to guide the group and help them develop projects of interest to them. The projects considered included a Beit Shemesh walking club with marked paths, a series of courses for couples and families to improve family relations, planting trees in local neighborhoods, computer training for post high school students, a preschool program for special needs kids, and pamphlets on getting to know the area, including booklets indicating attractive walking tours.

The Beit Shemesh Walking Club, the project of Sarah Shiffman, opened just before Rosh Hashanna, with over 100 people participating. Two groups subsequently took part in the Jerusalem March - a group of families, and a group of elderly, who were bussed to the special walking paths designated for seniors. A special lecture held in February taught people how to walk properly. Signs for the special walking paths are still being discussed, and we hope that they will be put up during the summer.

The series of courses for couples and families was the project of Michal Valani. The program was advertised, but there was not sufficient response to offer the courses. The concept is currently being rethought, to see if there is another, less expensive way, to help families and young couples address problems that face them.

The program to plant trees was suggested and initiated by Moshe Flam. It began in one apartment building. Children from the building persuaded all the residents to join in planting three trees, and the families are taking turns watering them. The grounds around the apartment building will soon be shady and green. We hope that the program will spread to other parts of Beit Shemesh.

One of the group members, Tami Kerem, was particularly interested in helping young people who have completed the army to become interested in university or in other forms of higher education. Moshe Flam, who works with computers, developed a program to teach young people computer skills, using self-instructional material. Three young men have found work in computers after working through his program. Moshe would like to expand the program, but needs access to a computer room.

Other programs which were planned but have not yet been actualized include a program to provide special enrichment for special needs children at the preschool level, which was initiated by Hadas Natan, and a project to publish information on tourist sites and hiking trails in the area, headed by Shirit Aronson.

The group met every other week during the summer and fall, and in January, met together with a similar group from Kiryat Malachi-Hof Ashkelon. After that meeting a joint workshop was held on fundraising strategies. The workshop was held in Hof Ashkelon. A day-long tiyul to the north was also held in January, with the goal of helping to bring the group members closer together.

In March, three members of the group were sent to Washington, DC, for the Young Leadership conference. The three included Shirit Aronson, Shai Litt, and Sarah Shiffman. Two members of the Student Leadership group also went, Eitan and Shirly Hevroni. The Washington trip served several useful functions. One was bringing together the Volunteer Forum members with the Student Leadership group. Another was bringing back many ideas for new projects from the conference, and the third was getting to know the members of the Washington Partnership 2000 region.

After returning both groups have worked together, first on the "Educational Fair" put on by the Student Leadership group to encourage young people to consider higher education. The Volunteer Forum had a booth encouraging volunteer activities, and collected information from those who are interested in volunteer opportunities in Beit Shemesh.

The current focus of the Volunteer Forum is to establish a volunteer center in Beit Shemesh, which will serve as the coordinator for all the volunteer activities in the city, including the Student Leadership program, and initiating other activities to improve the city and the surrounding region. A project card was submitted for funding in 2001, but the group hopes to begin immediately. One of the goals of the center will be to encourage extensive people-to-people exchange with Washington, DC and South Africa, to share expertise such as development of lay leadership and fundraising skills.

Tamuz 5760 - July 2000