During this very unsettling time, AMIT knows that building resilience and arming our children with skills and coping mechanisms is of key importance. Our aim is to empower students so that they recover, become a positive force, and can create a lasting impact on the State of Israel – both now and for generations to come.
Update #9 From AMIT
Right now, the entire country of Israel is on hold. No one can anticipate what’s ahead or what to expect in the days and weeks to come.
During this very unsettling time, AMIT knows that building resilience and arming our children with skills and coping mechanisms is of key importance. Our aim is to empower students so that they recover, become a positive force, and can create a lasting impact on the State of Israel – both now and for generations to come.
New Rollout of AMIT Sayeret Squads
This week, AMIT rolled out (4) network-wide “Sayeret” squads to teach and arm AMIT students:
1. Hasbara Squad (Israel Advocacy)
Students receive four virtual training seminars from leading experts of Hasbara (public diplomacy), focusing on creative writing, storytelling, and video editing. We encourage students to actively participate in Hasbara to foster a positive image of the country on the global stage.
Hasbara empowers young minds to articulate Israel’s vision and narratives and promotes understanding and dialogue in an increasingly interconnected world. Students engaging in Hasbara initiatives hopefully become ambassadors of truth, conveying Israel’s rich cultural, historical, and societal tapestry.
Giving students the tools and confidence to counteract misinformation and prejudice is a priority, especially in our current climate. Students’ proficiency with social platforms allows them to have an even wider reach across diverse audiences.
The WZO (World Zionist Organization) learned about our Hasbara Squad and is now working to replicate AMIT’s model in schools in the United States, South Africa, and Argentina. The WZO’s professional staff received training from AMIT staff and will work through their network to identify fitting candidates. Our hope is upon completion of training, AMIT and WZO’s students from around the world can come together and produce joint Hasbara projects.
2. Resilience Squad
Building resilience in students during wartime is a critical endeavor to cope with immediate challenges and equips them with life skills to serve them in their futures.
Unfortunately, students have been exposed to horrific experiences, images, and videos on social media. To offset this, students will produce positive videos for their fellow students and peers. They will receive expert training from marketing experts and social media influencers on how to create content and messages to offset the negative.
3. Leadership Squad
With many teachers drafted, every school is looking for creative solutions for the classroom. At AMIT, we are identifying promising 12th graders and giving them basic training to serve as teachers assistants. This will not only alleviate the current teachers’ shortage but will catapult these students into leadership positions and steer them towards roles where they can care for others in the future.
4. Agriculture Squad
Another outcome of the war and with foreigners fleeing the country, is lack of available field workers. Israel’s agriculture industry is in jeopardy. AMIT is organizing groups of students to lend a hand in fields around the country. So far, students have picked avocados, strawberries, lettuce, olives, pumpkins, and more.
AMIT on the Frontline
Moshe Uziel, Director of the Zeisel Junior College at Kfar Blatt, is currently on reserve duty, stationed in the South. Itzik Abergil, Principal of the Fred Kahane Vocational School in Ashkelon, graciously gave his guest unit to Moshe…who now has a bed, warm shower, and home-cooked meals. This is an example of what we mean when we say that AMIT is one, deeply connected family.
AMIT Yud Ashdod Graduate Defended Ra'im Base Against Terrorists
In the link below is a translation of an article that appeared in the Israeli newspaper, Makor Rishon, about one of our AMIT Makif Yud Ashdod graduates (anonymously, for security reasons). Read more about how “they” bravely fought on October 7th here.