« Go Back

About American Jewish World Service

AJWS is an independent not-for-profit organization founded in 1985 to help alleviate poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the world regardless of race, religion or nationality. It breathes life into Judaism's imperative to pursue justice and helps American Jews act upon a deeply felt obligation to improve the chances for survival, economic independence and human dignity for all people.

International Voluntary Service Activities

The Jewish Volunteer Corps
The JVC places Jewish professionals with grassroots organizations in Africa, the Americas and Asia (including Russia and Ukraine) to provide skills training to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). JVC volunteers are placed with NGOs as consultants to train specific staff members in their personal area(s) of expertise. By providing technical assistance through skills training, JVC volunteers help NGOs build their capacity and achieve their overall mission. Successful JVC volunteer placements leave NGO staff members with skills they will utilize long after the volunteer leaves. By focusing on skills transfer the JVC promotes the sustainable development of community based NGOs. Volunteer placements are based on requests for volunteers from NGOs and the volunteer's professional background. This year, the JVC will send about 80 volunteers to work with NGOs in the developing world.

AJWS Delegations
Through AJWS delegation programs, participants experience grassroots sustainable development and focus on the connections between social justice, service and Judaism. AJWS delegation programs runs in partnership with Jewish organizations such as synagogues, JCCs and Jewish summer camps. Delegations may be specifically geared to adults, young adults, families or high school juniors and seniors. During this week-long program, local grassroots organizations, partnered with AJWS, invite participants to take part in their work. This connection between participants, AJWS and project partners is central to the delegations experience. Participants are involved in work projects such as planting, digging ditches for the laying of water lines and working in an arboretum designed to counteract deforestation. They study social justice and international development through a Jewish lens and plan a meaningful Shabbat experience that allows participants to experience the challenges and rewards of pluralistic Jewish communities, while laying the foundation for follow-up activities and sharing their experience of the developing world with others on their return home. This year, around 140 people will participate in 7 delegations.

The International Jewish College Corps
The yearlong International Jewish College Corps (IJCC) program begins with an intense, seven-week cultural immersion experience that weaves together in-depth exploration of international development, study of social justice in a Jewish context, and humanitarian service in hands-on volunteer community projects in the developing world and the former Soviet Union. Participants spend four weeks living and working alongside rural communities in either Ghana or Honduras (applicants choose their country during the interview process), followed by three weeks with a re-emerging Jewish community in Ukraine. Following the summer, participants continue in the IJCC yearlong domestic program that includes educational seminars, retreats, public speaking engagements, article writing and volunteer service. IJCC is open to Jewish students between the ages of 18-25. Participants must be at least one year out of high school. IJCC is a pluralistic program that welcomes and accommodates Jewish students from all backgrounds. This year, there was 39 IJCC participants.

Alternative Breaks
Through AJWS' Alternative Break (AB) program, students experience grassroots sustainable development and focus on the connections between social justice, service and Judaism. The AB program is run in partnership with Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Hillels around the country have brought groups of students on ABs with AJWS since spring of 2000. Local host organizations, partnered with AJWS, invite students to participate in their work. This connection between students, AJWS, and project partners is central to the AB experience. During the week, students are involved in work projects such as planting, digging ditches for the laying of water lines and working in an arboretum designed to counteract deforestation. They study social justice and international development through a Jewish lens and plan a meaningful Shabbat experience that allows students to experience the challenges and rewards of pluralistic Jewish communities, while laying the foundation for follow-up activities and sharing their experience of the developing world with others on their return home. This year, 183 students from 20 colleges and universities participated in AB, at 5 different sites over the course of 7 weeks.

Volunteer for Prosperity Opportunities
Number of Opportunities	4
Geographic Regions	Africa, Asia, Latin America, Russia, Fr. Soviet Union
Health & Prosperity Sectors	Agriculture, Health, Capacity Building, Education, HIV/AIDS, Information Communication Technology,Women Youth Empowerment
Types of Opportunities	Management, Technical, Support
Average Duration of Projects	days
Volunteer Profile Summary
Varies drastically depending on program.