The JIY - A Home for Every Jerusalemite

If I were a superhero, I’d be Y-Girl. I was raised at the Jerusalem International YMCA (JIY), and consider it my home. Having grown up in the preschool, and spent my summers at the camp, this place has shaped my identity. I have been working here for seven years, starting as a Membership Office receptionist, then as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor, and now as the Development Director. Healthy living, cultural diversity and social responsibility are what make me who I am. The JIY stands tall as a landmark building in Jerusalem, and our activities set an example of what Jerusalem could look like if we united for equal opportunity and youth development. Our mission is to put the global principles of the YMCA into practice through programs that encourage personal growth, promote tolerance and build health of the spirit, mind and body. We attract the Arab and Jewish populations of Jerusalem, by providing high-quality programs in education, sports and culture. The JIY is a safe space in a complex city where every Jerusalemite can find a piece of themselves. Supporting the JIY will help us: • Provide scholarships for disadvantaged children to attend the Peace Preschool and JIY Summer Camp. • Build a new wing in the Youth Center for the arts, and create drama, fine art, orchestra and Gymboree programs. • Open a Sports Academy for long-term athlete development in children under 12. • Add an awning and impact-absorbing flooring in the preschool playground. • Enhance our multicultural events promoting diversity in Jerusalem. Every gift will help us make a difference to lives of people in Jerusalem, and donations above $500 will be recognised with a plaque in our Path for Peace - a wall with dedications of peace and hope on our rooftop terrace.