JVN Blog

“My summer at ALEH was transformational. I believe that my true identity was forged while volunteering at ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran in southern Israel.”

Inspired by the kindness of her parents throughout her youth, British Columbia native Shoshanna Kervin developed an unquenchable desire to help others. Having shadowed a local girl with Downs syndrome and volunteered in a home that cared for children with special needs for several summers during high school, Shoshanna sought out a new opportunity for the summer following her college graduation, one that would allow her to explore her Jewish heritage and care for those in need in Israel. When she applied for a summer internship with ALEH, Israel’s foremost network of state-of-the-art facilities for children with severe complex disabilities, she had no idea how the experience would change her life.

As her internship began, Shoshanna was struck by the unparalleled diversity represented within the groups of ALEH’s residents and staff members, and she was pleasantly surprised by the spirit of inclusion and acceptance that permeated every corner of the rehabilitative village, shaping the philosophy by which patient care was developed and provided. “Rather than attempting to shoehorn every child into a one-size-fits-all rehabilitation program, ALEH tailors the programming to each patient’s unique needs and abilities, creating individualised experiences that allows each child to develop to his or her fullest potentials,” explains Shoshanna.

The paramedical staff accepted Shoshanna with open arms and guided her through her internship, providing her with an exciting and enriching professional environment. Through their actions, they also opened Shoshanna’s eyes to Israel’s long-standing tradition of kindness and its capacity for acceptance of individuals of all religions, races, nationalities, and abilities.

“Surrounded by angels in the Holy Land, I learned the true meaning of inclusion, altruism and humanity” says Shoshanna, who is now enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces.

To find out the opportunities Aleh and other organisations can offer individuals and families visiting Israel, visit the dedicated Israel volunteering page on the JVN website.

For more information on ALEH: www.ALEH.org ; www.facebook.com/ALEHIsrael ; Instagram: @aleh_israel

The British Friends of ALEH offers Social Action Programmes for young people and Bar / Bat Mitzvah youth. For more information, please e-mail: liron@aleh.org.uk

Volunteering in Israel – ALEH welcomes Volunteers from around the world, and offers them a free room and board and, a chance to enrich the lives of our children while gaining hands-on experience. ALEH has a multitude of volunteer opportunities to meet each person’s skills, availability, and preferences. Our hundreds of volunteers describe their experience as unique, gratifying and memorable and can attest to the immeasurable affect it has made in their lives. If you are able to commit to a minimum of one month of volunteering, please Contact ALEH’s Volunteers’ Team –https://aleh.org/donation-information/volunteer-sign-up-form/

Get ready to make an impact!