Dor, AMEN Youth Volunteer, Israel

Meet Dor and learn about his role as an AMEN Youth Volunteer.

Seventeen-year-old Dor lives in the residential town of Reut, in the center of Israel. Dor, one of three children, influenced by the fact that his father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Israeli Defense Forces for many years and by the AMEN program’s branch in the nearby municipality of Modi'in, knew that volunteering would be an important part of his life. AMEN is a JDC program designed to nurture volunteerism and leadership among Israel’s young generation.

Dor’s experiences in the Israeli Scouts program both introduced him to other volunteer opportunities and prepared him to get involved in another Israeli youth movement. His work in the Scouts offered him the opportunity to work closely with the manager of Youth Programs in Modi'in. Through this exposure, the manager offered Dor the opportunity to get involved with the new Modi'in branch of an established national youth movement for children with special needs. The name of the movement, "Kanfa'im shel Krembo," translates into wings of Krembo, which refers to the famous Israeli sweet treat Krembo, a chocolate covered dollop of cream with a cookie at the bottom. According to Dor, Krembo is something sweet and beloved, just like the participants of the youth movement. The wings, he explains, help them take flight.

Through his involvement in the movement, Dor participates in the annual conference of Youth Leaders International (YLI), which is held each year in a different international location. As a result, he has met fellow youth volunteers and leaders from around the globe.

Dor’s work in the movement provided his first real exposure to children with special needs. He has come to realize that despite some physical differences, the children he works with are like all other children. Not only does Dor not regret getting involved, but he says he couldn't imagine a life without volunteering.

JDC's AMEN Volunteer Program
In 2003, JDC launched AMEN to mobilize young people to promote and participate in volunteer activities to meet their communities' needs. AMEN strives to achieve this by:

• Increasing the number of youth volunteers through innovative volunteering frameworks
• Improving cooperation and professionalism amongst youth volunteer organizations
• Creating a cadre of young volunteers who can become future community leaders
• Providing organizations with professional training programs for volunteers

AMEN is a partnership between JDC, the Ministry of Education, the Israel Association of Community Centers and Amutat Alon. In addition, AMEN has strategic partnerships with various businesses, universities and colleges, and federations and donors.