September 29, 2009
SAM and AEPi members plant trees at a Greek Alternative Break.
After a very successful run in January of 2009, the ICC will again partner with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and several historically Jewish fraternities and sororities to offer “Greeks Build Israel,” the signature alternative break program for fraternity and sorority students. Unlike the standard spring break for Greek students, “Greeks Build Israel” allows its participants to combine the pillars of Greek life—philanthropy, service and social activities—into a week of education, hands-on work and serious contribution to those in need. Moving the partnership forward, the JNF will provide ICC 80 spots for students in the Spring 2010 season, providing two options for students to choose from: March 6-14 or March 14-21. The two groups will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the development communities in Southern Israel as well as to build up their own connection with the land and people of Israel.
Each participant in Greeks Build Israel pledges to raise at least $975 for a designated JNF charitable project, and in exchange is given a free trip to Israel during their week of spring break. Working with other students on campus and the ICC’s Greek Outreach Associate, philanthropy events, fundraisers and informational sessions about the JNF projects are planned during the lead-in to the actual trip, and on return to campus the students continue their campaign of raising awareness about life and development in the Negev region.
During the trip, participants volunteer at sites throughout development towns in the Negev, performing important infrastructure repairs, participating in social service projects and working with food banks to harvest and distribute produce to the needy. The JNF’s educational curriculum provides a running backdrop of context and points for reflection throughout the trip, which in the past has included sunrise hikes and concerts with top Israeli musicians like David Broza.
Despite the fact that the 2009 trip took place at the onset of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, 39 students traveled to Israel to spend ten days volunteering and working with Israelis in the development regions of the Negev, an area highlighted by the JNF’s Blueprint Negev initiative. They spent many hours directly working for the people and land of Israel on a variety of projects and helped to fundraise over $40,000 for the construction of an indoor playground facility in Sderot, built to provide the citizens of the area a refuge from the barrage of rockets launched from Gaza.
Registration for both sessions of Greeks Build Israel 2010 is now open at www.jnf.org/asb. To select this trip, applicants should click the “Search for a Team” button at the bottom of the registration page and choose one of the two Greeks Build Israel options. For more information about the trip please contact the ICC’s Greek Outreach Associate, Alex Shapero, at ashapero@israelcc.org or 202-449-6508.