Among thousands of students across the district, Oriya Gershi, a 12th grader in the Adi Program for Girls at Ulpanat AMIT Beeri in Sderot, was selected to receive the Ministry of Education’s Outstanding Community Involvement Award for 2026, one of the highest honors awarded to youth volunteers in Israel.
For the past three years, Oriyah has volunteered with SACHI (Special Kindness Unit), an organization that mobilizes teens to support families in need. Every week, she has helped collect and distribute food throughout Sderot, ensuring that struggling families receive practical support with dignity and care.
What distinguished Oriya was not only her dedication, but her leadership. She became a driving force within the organization, inspiring other teenagers to get involved and demonstrating an unwavering commitment even during difficult periods. Her ability to lead by example earned her a place in SACHI’s prestigious Young Leaders program, which accepts only three participants from all of the organization’s chapters throughout southern Israel.
“When I arrived in Sderot in 10th grade,” said Oriyah, “I discovered SACHI and found a community of friends that remains part of my life to this day. Volunteering helped me grow socially, as a leader, and in my values. Receiving this recognition was incredibly meaningful for me, and I am grateful to have been chosen.”
Her educators describe a young woman who consistently chooses to make time for others despite the demands of school and daily life. Through her determination, sensitivity, and willingness to serve, she has become a role model to her peers and a reflection of the values at the heart of the Adi Program.
