NFTY Volunteer Trip to New Orleans
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"Justice, justice, you shall pursue" is one of the most important Judaic principles. For all of my life, I have been extremely involved in a variety of community service and social justice projects. I've been a Girl Scout for the past 12 years, was a camp counselor this summer at a children's day camp, and I volunteer at my temple weekly organizing youth group events. Since my freshman year, I have been involved in an organization known as the National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). NFTY is a youth movement for reform Jews that unites kids from 19 regions around the US and Canada. Before NFTY, I never felt I had a strong bond with any group of people my age. NFTY is where I have grown into the leader I am today and have gotten the courage to stand up for injustices.
This summer, I have the opportunity to join NFTY in their Mitzvah Corps program in New Orleans. It is a 2 week long program, where I will spend two weeks in the deep south, 9 days in New Orleans, Louisiana and 4 days traveling through Alabama on a Civil Rights history tour. During the day I will volunteer within communities who implement creative solutions to real world issues. I'll have a chance to really get to know members of the communities we'll be serving within. The evenings will be spent exploring New Orleans culture and programs designed to provide important context for the work I do. New Orleans is my favorite city I've visited in the United States (thus far!).
Mitzvah Corps this summer is the last chance I have to participate in the program. My last summer before college, I truly want to make a difference and give back with the people who have given me so much. I know this program is a great way for me to do that. However, I truly cannot afford the trip on my own. A native of Los Angeles, the travel and registration costs are very expensive. Both of my parents serve the public as public school teachers and with the budget cuts the education system has been taking, my family simply does not have any extra money to send me on this fantastic program. This program will not only empower me and give me the summer experience of a lifetime, but I will be giving back to my country and the communities that have been affected by recent natural disasters and other situations!
Thank you so much for helping me get there!
NFTY Mitzvah Corps New Orleans Program Page
This summer, I have the opportunity to join NFTY in their Mitzvah Corps program in New Orleans. It is a 2 week long program, where I will spend two weeks in the deep south, 9 days in New Orleans, Louisiana and 4 days traveling through Alabama on a Civil Rights history tour. During the day I will volunteer within communities who implement creative solutions to real world issues. I'll have a chance to really get to know members of the communities we'll be serving within. The evenings will be spent exploring New Orleans culture and programs designed to provide important context for the work I do. New Orleans is my favorite city I've visited in the United States (thus far!).
Mitzvah Corps this summer is the last chance I have to participate in the program. My last summer before college, I truly want to make a difference and give back with the people who have given me so much. I know this program is a great way for me to do that. However, I truly cannot afford the trip on my own. A native of Los Angeles, the travel and registration costs are very expensive. Both of my parents serve the public as public school teachers and with the budget cuts the education system has been taking, my family simply does not have any extra money to send me on this fantastic program. This program will not only empower me and give me the summer experience of a lifetime, but I will be giving back to my country and the communities that have been affected by recent natural disasters and other situations!
Thank you so much for helping me get there!
NFTY Mitzvah Corps New Orleans Program Page
Organizer
Victoria Solkovits
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA