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over 30 years volunteering together for the community

VOLUNTEERING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMUNITY

If you are interested in more information about any of the following activities call the numbers mentioned below, or send an email to the ESRA Gan Rashal office 09-950 8371. VOLUNTEER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS were presented at ESRA's 30th Anniversary Festival at Shefayim in October 2008.	One of ESRA's aims is to encourage English speakers in Israel to volunteer in the community. By doing so the "newcomer" feels part of the surroundings and a contributing member of society. And, of course, Israeli society is all the richer for their input. There are many different areas of volunteering to suit every individual's personality and/or area of expertise. ESRA has a volunteer coordinator who is willing to discuss your suitability and time availability for one of the worthwhile volunteering activities that ESRA is involved in. Likewise, if you know of a project that needs English speaking volunteers then contact our volunteer coordinator who may be able to match a volunteer to help. More than 900 ESRA volunteers act as mentors and movers of cultural, educational & social activities and clubs, as helpers to children and families in need, as editors and distributors of the ESRA Magazine, as volunteers in the ESRA offices, and in other capacities.
See which activity interests you and then click for details: Tutoring English to students referred by the municipal services: Assisting in English classes in local schools and/or Helping students with Oral exams in English Helping at an ESRA Techushon - afternoon enrichment program for special needs children Selling and sorting goods at an ESRA "Nearly New" shop Meals on Wheels Sewing Centers for Ethiopian immigrants After school centers for disadvantaged children Visiting the elderly or sick Visiting new immigrants or people in need Assisting developmentally disabled adults Writing articles for the ESRA magazine or helping to hand deliver in your area Volunteer librarian in our Second-hand Book Shop Organising an activity in your area Running a support group Lecturing or giving a class to one of ESRA's senior citizens' or social clubs Starting an ESRA group in your area	ESRA English for Schools matches English speaking volunteers with school pupils in order to improve their English. The program covers children learning from grade 4 to Bagrut (matriculation). Volunteer teachers offer their help in schools on a regular one to one basis, or in small groups. Volunteers are also needed to speak English with teen-agers preparing for their oral Bagrut examination. Some of the programs require trained experienced teachers, and some require no teaching background at all, just the ability to speak your native English language. Workshops for volunteer English Tutors are held periodically at Beit Fisher, Raanana. Call 09-748 2957 if you are interested in participating in a future workshop. This ESRA programme operates in Herzlia, Hod Hasharon, Kfar Saba, Netanya, Raanana, Ramat Hasharon, Tel Aviv and other areas. To find out more, contact overall coordinator, Gill Teicher 03 602 1008 or the coordinator in your local area who assigns volunteers to schools according to local need: Bar Ilan University - Noah Margalit 03-648 5575 Caesarea - Jane Krivine 04-636 1531 Herzliya - Marise 09-957 1170 Kfar Saba - Naomi Resnick 09-745 3851 Kiron - Estelle Ganot 03-534 7160 Modiin - Jackie 052-747 2151 Netanya - Ros 09-834 0937 Raanana - Ruth Wood 09-771 1738 Ramat Hasharon - Babette Kaplan 077-330 0455 Rehovot - Annice 08-947 5510 Tel Aviv - Gill 03-602 1008 Your help is much appreciated and needed!
	The *Techushon* offers opportunities for children with special needs to participate in afternoon clubs in community centers, providing them with enrichment activities. The Techushons are run by professionals with the help of ESRA volunteers who give one-to-one assistance to the children. Volunteers receive special training and guidance from the professional staff. Come and volunteer once a week 17:00 - 19:00. In Bat Hefer & Ramat Hasharon. Call Ruth Kamon 052-501 7165.
	ESRA 'Nearly New Shops' are central in the lives of many newcomers, foreign workers, young families etc. who can purchase good quality goods at very reasonable prices. Volunteers commit themselves to come for a few hours each week to help sort, fold and sell the goods. Volunteers are also sometimes needed to collect goods from donors' homes. In Raanana, behind 102 Ahuza, 09-741 2631 Kfar Saba, 45 Rothschild, 09-765 4652; 050-535 4884 and Netanya, 1 Hanotea 09-834 3753.
	Meals on Wheels. Distribution of hot meals to the homes of the elderly, infirm etc. Herzliya, Kfar Saba. Food for the Hungry. Collecting and packaging food parcels for the needy. Herzliya, Netanya.
	Sewing centers in Netanya (Ramat Yadin, Kiryat Nordau, Shikun Vatikim). Ethiopian immigrants learn to sew on machines, to acquire the skills to make clothing for their families and to integrate into the community. If you have some sewing skills, or the ability to help with the maintenance of the sewing machines, or you would just like to come along and give moral support (and you know a little Hebrew), one morning a week, call Nina 09-862 3228.
	After School Clubs for disadvantaged children. Tutoring in all subjects (including English) is provided for these children, not only giving them help with homework but also providing a safe and constructive environment encouraging their way forward. In all areas.
	Visiting the elderly or sick or befriending a blind person. In homes, hospitals, sheltered homes; reading, conversing, taking for walks, shopping etc.
	Visiting new immigrants or befriending people in need. Initial and follow-up visits to newcomers informing them of community services, support and social groups etc.and providing a sympathetic listening ear to anyone going through a rough patch in their lives.
	Assisting developmentally disabled adults. Do you have a special skill to teach these adults? One-to-one assistance is needed during classes and 'after hours' in their group home. Or helping one afternoon a week in the Cafeteria at Levzeller Hostel in Herzliya.
	ESRA's Second-hand Book Shops situated in Beit Fisher, Raanana, and since March 2008, behind the Or Akivah Shopping Mall nr Caesarea. Books are donated and volunteers sort through them, arrange them on the shelves and help browsers to select their books. All proceeds go towards ESRA funds. If you are a literary enthusiast then this is the job for you!
	ESRA Magazine: Would you like to write articles on specific topics for our bi-monthly production, or edit our monthly events sheet. We also need volunteers to help collate and distribute the Magazine.
	Would you like to coordinate a group activity in your area? This would involve arranging a speaker/facilitator/professional, and a place & time. ESRA will give you all the backup support you need.
	Share your special knowledge, skills or talents with others: organise a group in your area, run a support group through the medium of ESRA, or give a course or lecture to one of our social or seniors groups.
	Do you have a topic of interest or special expertise that you would like to share with others? Our groups would welcome your input.
	No English speakers' group in your area? If you would like to meet others who speak your language where you live, then contact our ESRA Branch coordinator who can give you tips and help you set up an ESRA branch in your area. Call Audrey 09-959 5255.