After serving in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) for three years, Amit, 22, from Kfar Saba in the Central District of Israel, moved to the north to take a job in agriculture while also working with disabled kids. But like many Israelis post-army, he had the desire to do some traveling and explore the world and knew he wanted to do that in a meaningful way. Long hours of searching online led him to discover Project TEN, which sounded like just the opportunity he was looking for.
Project TEN is The Jewish Agency’s service-learning program that promotes social resilience in developing communities around the globe and in Israel. Volunteers are young Jewish adults from all over the world who work alongside locals while engaging in a global dialogue on Jewish identity and values with their peers. The Cambodia TEN center in Siam Reap – Project TEN’s first in Asia – opened in mid-2022.
“Project TEN emphasizes the importance of education and offers volunteers the chance to strengthen and support a community in a developing country while experiencing another way of life, getting exposed to the place’s history and culture,” said Amit. “I’ve always been interested in East Asia so participating in Project TEN in Cambodia was a great fit.”
Amit took part in the second cohort at the center, volunteering in late 2022 from September to December. Each week, the group would work in different local schools, preparing activities to do with the kids to teach skills such as teamwork and creativity through art and games. On weekends when the cohort was not staying at the center and celebrating Shabbat together, participants were free to experience more of the country on their own. That mix of doing Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), keeping Jewish traditions and exploration left an indelible impact on Amit.
“Spending that time with other volunteers, eating, sleeping, working together, we have these memories now that bond us for life. And during that time, getting to work with kids and be a positive part of the educational system is so powerful and an ideal way to help create change,” shared Amit. “Plus, I also learned a lot about Judaism and how differently people practice it. When anyone today asks me about Project TEN, my immediate response is that they should go do it. It was truly so amazing.”
In addition to Amit feeling he made a positive difference in the Cambodian community, he also feels being part of Project TEN had a positive impact on himself.
“Project TEN taught me a lot about myself, about people, about community and about the simplicity in life,” Amit explained. “It made me realize that anyone and everyone can ‘be the change’ if they want to be and I’m grateful to have gotten to learn that firsthand.”
