Mission: To break the cycle of poverty, empower Jerusalem communities and foster a network of young social leaders in Israel by promoting civic responsibility, equal opportunity and social mobility.
Bakehila operates integrative educational programs inside schools and community centers, helping children and youth from underprivileged communities reach their full academic and personal potential in order to successfully break out of the cycle of poverty. Applying a holistic approach to social impact, Bakehila offers classroom assistance, after-school enrichment, individual mentoring and community programming, designed to decrease the educational gap in Jerusalem and empowering entire communities. In order to ensure long-term sustainability amongst both the children and communities, Bakehila fully involves families and works hand-in-hand with local authorities and communal leaders to promote resident responsibility and collaboration.
Bakehila's activities are primarily implemented by Service Fellows - enthusiastic young adults who have chosen to postpone their required military service and dedicate a full year to intensive volunteer work deep within Jerusalem. Over the course of the year, this carefully selected group simultaneously grows into agents of social change, while benefiting from Bakehila's comprehensive leadership training enrichment programs. Upon completing their fellowship, they are offered continued alumni leadership programming, aimed at maximizing their social leadership development in order to further impact Israeli society. This program also brings the young, vibrant spirit and talent back to Israel's capital and holiest city, Jerusalem, furthering the city’s social and economic development.
Since its inception in 2002, Bakehila has impacted roughly 25,000 children in 8 different neighborhoods in Jerusalem, including Israeli, Arab, and Ultra-Orthodox, and is the leading organization in Israel for the training and operation of year of service volunteers.
In 2015, Bakehila launched The Center for Education Growth, to share the proven Bakehila operational model and spirit of social activism. The Center offers expert services to organizations in Israel and around the globe seeking to fight poverty, by training them to maximize their volunteer recruitment and implementation, develop extra-curricular educational programming to develop local partnerships and enhance struggling communities as a whole.
By providing a holistic platform to remove kids from poverty and building leaders to further impact Israeli society, Bakehila is proudly play a critical role in shaping Israel’s future.
Bakehila is a non-profit organization funded by Jewish Federations, Foundations, corporations and private donors, together with local authorities and the Israeli Ministry of Education and Welfare.