Rachel Zoaretz, Student Volunteer in JDC's Mishol Program, Sderot

WATCH VIDEO: Meet Rachel and learn about her role as a student volunteer in JDC's Mishol program

Rachel Zoaretz, an Ashkelon native, embodies the contemporary spirit of Zionism and personal commitment to the broader community. She was an architecture student in Haifa when, motivated by concern for Sderot's population that has been suffering missile attacks from Gaza in recent years, she decided to move to Sderot with a group of 10 students who live together in Neve Eshkol, an underprivileged neighborhood in the city, and volunteer in the community. Currently, Rachel is studying towards a BA degree in Economics at the Sapir Academic College in Sderot.

While still in high school, Rachel had studied in a special tourism track, and received a travel agent license. She also represented Israel in the national girls' basketball team. She graduated from high-school in 2002 with a full matriculation. In the army, her first position was as a trainer of a fresh recruits’ group, and later she was selected to serve as an office assistant for a Lieutenant General before ultimately having to discharge early for health reasons.

After her army service, Rachel held a series of professional positions, both in the corporate world and the non-profit sector. She spent a year as a social coordinator, counselor and head of counseling staff at the Ashkelon branch of Akim – the National Association for the Habilitation of the Mentally Handicapped in Israel. There, Rachel experienced working directly with children with mental disabilities, as well as project planning, implementation, and management—including, for example, a summer camp, which she developed for children with mental disabilities.

At Mishol, Rachel works on family outreach in her home neighborhood of Neve Eshkol. She brings to the program her energy, drive, and enthusiasm. She does not expect anything in return for her voluntarism, but feels rewarded by the warmth and affection she receives from residents.

A lover of the ocean, Rachel spends her free time surfing.

Mishol was designed to promote dialogue between the residents of a community and to foster a positive attitude toward the process of affecting change. As a comprehensive project, Mishol aims to empower immigrant families to enhance their living conditions and participate in building a viable local community. Working with a core team of community workers, Mishol is helping to reduce tension and facilitate conflict resolution among the families within the apartment cluster. The Mishol staff, which is comprised of immigrants and veteran Israelis, encourages the residents to participate in training programs, job placement, and home maintenance. Local clubs and activities for children and women emphasize cross-cultural meetings.