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VFI’S YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AGES 17–28Experience life in Israel as no tourist can! Only Volunteers for Israel offers a program where you can volunteer on an active IDF base. Sign up for this one-of-a-kind VFI program and learn firsthand what the army experience means to your Israeli peers and to Israel. You’ll work alongside soldiers and volunteers of all ages and from many countries, sleep in the barracks, have three kosher meals a day in the mess hall, and wear IDF work clothes—all free of charge while you are on the base. Fee the pride, knowing your hands-on work supports Israel and makes a real difference. And you’ll have memories and friendships for a lifetime! Young adults are welcome to join any scheduled program throughout the year. However, the only all-peer experience offered by VFI is our singular VFI Campus Israel Discovery Program. VFI CAMPUS ISRAEL DISCOVERY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AGES 18–28January 1–12, 2023The VFI Campus Israel Discovery Program is an exciting new experience in Israel developed by Sar-El. Have an unforgettable adventure exploring with your peers a side of Israel you’ve never seen. Program Highlights: First week: Volunteer on an army base and work alongside your Israeli peers. Get an inside look at the IDF, Israeli intelligence units, and the hi-tech industry. Weekend: Hike Masada at sunrise, swim in the Dead Sea, and spend Shabbat on a kibbutz. Second week: Volunteer on a military base, learn about challenges Israel faces and receive tools to deal with them back home. Meet past combat soldiers from special units in the IDF. Final day: You’ll have an amazing visit at the Fauda base. And more. Program cost is $690 USD. Apply through VFI to experience the VFI Campus Israel Discovery Program. You may qualify for a $1,000 grant to offset your travel costs. Ask your regional manager for more details. Here are some other program options to consider:ADD A VFI PROGRAM FOLLOWING YOUR BIRTHRIGHT OR OTHER ISRAEL EXPERIENCE TOURYou can extend your trip and see more of Israel — from the inside — by volunteering on an IDF base.
TRAVEL SOLO OR WITH FRIENDSSince VFI programs are available throughout the year, this is our most flexible scheduling option. Choose any 1- 2- or 3- week program. that fits your schedule. As with all VFI programs, you are responsible for the costs of your airfare and weekend activities. On a multi-week program, on weekends (Thursday afternoon–Sunday morning) you can visit friends and family, travel with your new VFI friends, or follow your own itinerary. Whatever you decide to do, you will be amazed by the awesome, unforgettable sights and sounds that only Israel offers. |  |
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Sign on for this life-changing adventure!Our adult programs, offered year round, give an insider’s view of Israel. You will work alongside soldiers, base employees, and other volunteers on an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) base, performing non-combat civilian support duties such as packing medical supplies; repairing machinery and equipment; building fortifications; and painting and maintaining the base. You will be housed in barracks with fellow volunteers, enjoy 3 kosher meals a day, and wear IDF work clothes. The Sunday to Thursday workweek also includes cultural/educational programs in the evening and tours when possible. Weekends are spent off the base, which gives you many options! Travel in Israel, visit with friends and relatives, or hang out with your new VFI friends. No-cost army hostel accommodations and reduced-price hotel rates may be available. Our IDF base program is well-suited for those traveling solo! Because it is a group experience, you will meet volunteers from diverse backgrounds and locations, so you need not worry about feeling left out. You will develop life-long friendships and travel partners. Learn more by clicking the “request more info” or “apply now” buttons above. |  |
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Want to work on an IDF base AND tour Israel with a private guide WITHOUT having to take care of all of the messy logistics? Sign up for an all-inclusive VFI PLUS program!
VFI’s PLUS Programs take care of everything! ALL arrangements from your volunteer assignment, hotels, transportation on an air-conditioned bus, airport transfers, private tours, lectures, specialty guides, admission fees, food (except touring lunches), and tips are included. You are responsible only for your round-trip air travel to Tel Aviv. It could not be simpler: just pack your bags and show up. These programs have received rave reviews!
And you have two to pick from! VFI PLUS ADVANCEDThis 17-day program includes 9 days of volunteering on an IDF base plus 8 days of private, custom touring with a professional Israeli guide in an air-conditioned bus. Our deluxe itinerary features unusual and under-the radar experiences in addition to some hotspots you can’t miss. To learn more, click here VFI PLUS ARCHAEOLOGYAwaken your inner Indiana Jones and get your hands dirty in ancient soil on an active archaeological site guided by professionals from Tel Aviv University and the IAA(Israel Antiquities Authority). This 14-day, ALL-Inclusive program is for both first-timers and repeat volunteers. It combines 5 days of volunteer work on an IDF base, 5 days of work at a professional dig site in the City of David, next to Old City Jerusalem, and 4 days of custom touring to out-of-the-way locations. Ideal for 18-80+, you get to work alongside archaeology professionals and Israeli students. This unique program also offers a rare and memorable experience performing various tasks that directly aid the archaeologists in their important mission. The City of David is a world-class archaeological wonderland with rich ancient connections. It is the most ancient part of the Canaanite and Israelite City of Jerusalem. The site includes findings from myriad layers of civilization. To learn more, click here. UPCOMING TOUR DATESVFI Plus ArchaeologyOctober 23 – November 5, 2022VFI Plus AdvancedNovember 11 – November 27, 2022 Contact: Ilana Blumenthal at ilanab@giltravel.com for more information |  |
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ZOOM NOW. REALITY LATER.These weekly Thursday Zoom-based programs are designed to take your brain on a vacation from the pain and loneliness of Covid-19 and transport you to archaeological digs, historic neighborhoods and homes, ancient cultural sites, and bustling streets in the Jewish homeland – all led by VFI PLUS’s official tour guide, Julia Newman. Attendees are in for a special treat of lectures given by world-class experts in their fields, such as former Mossad agents, brigadier generals, scientists, artists, photographers, and famed archaeologists. All programs are FREE and interactive, with real-time discussions. If you can’t volunteer on an IDF base or tour Israel right now, why not explore and do a deep dive into the country virtually? CLICK HERE to watch the more than 100 already-aired episodes. Examples include: Tour of Megiddo/Armageddon with Julia Newman Innovations in Archaeology in Jerusalem-2 with Prof. Yuval Gadot CLICK HERE or email vfivolunteer@gmail.com to reserve a spot for yourself or a friend and be notified of future events. If emailing, please include your name, state, and preferred email address. |  |
