School for Environmental Awareness and Agriculture

The school for environmental awareness and agriculture is a voluntary service held in the afternoons. Children and young people can participate in activities there and attend courses on nature and the environment, creating art from waste materials, plant growing and healthy eating. You can teach these subjects independently or with the local teachers at this school and conduct workshops.

Project Details

The school was founded in 1996 by the Israel Ministry of Education and has been growing ever since. The children attend school on a voluntary basis; and several children attend.

There are five teachers and five classes; there is a strong family feeling amongst the teachers and students. Subjects taught to children are on the environment of Israel, awareness for conservation, recycling, planting of fruits and vegetables, food production and nutrition. There are several greenhouses and outdoor gardens where vegetables and fruits are grown and that the students can take home. Further, the school has a small bakery where the students bake bread and Arabic Pizza every day, following traditional recipes.   

The aim is that the children learn about the importance of environmental conservation, where the food that they get every day from supermarkets comes from, how it is produced and processed, and how to have a healthy nutrition. 

Even though the school is highly popular and has close ties with the municipal primary schools, it is on a very tight budget, as it is not subsidized, but only financed through the contribution that every student pays, which is only 40 Shekel (around 8 €/12 USD) per year for 120 hours.  

The school also has an art studio where rubbish is recycled into art. 

Volunteers can assist the local teachers, but can also suggest their own topics and carry out their own projects with the children.

Info Box

Location: Tamra/Galilee, Israel
Availability: All year, Start date flexible
Minimum Duration: 2 Weeks

Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: English
Further Languages Of Advantage: Arabic
Accommodation:
Room in apartment with family

Supervision Possible: Yes
Qualification Of Supervisor: Teacher
Minimum Qualification Of Intern:
None
Further Contribution To Project: None

Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: Ideas in similar fields
Further Contribution To Project: None
Expectations:
Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude

Accommodation

Accommodation in Tamra

Shared Accommodation in Tamra:

In Tamra, our participants usually live in two adjacent houses on the hillside, overlooking Tamra and the plain of Acre, Haifa. There is direct access to the garden with olive and lemon trees between the two houses. In the floors of the two houses, there are modern and spacious studios. Eachh have a private bathroom and kitchenette. Each studio can comfortably house 2-3 participants. The owners, local couples, live there and provide necessary additional rooms on the upper floors. In the case of several participants in Tamra at the same time, we also organize accommodation in other homes of similar standards in the city.

Rate

I. World Unite! Service Package

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.

		up to 31 Days	32-60 Days	61-90 Days
	1 Person	650 EUR	850 EUR	1050 EUR
	2-4 Persons (Rate per Person)	600 EUR	800 EUR	1000 EUR

Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies

The World Unite! Service Package includes:

Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
Preparation Session via Skype, together with further participants
Information about and Assistance with the Arrangement of your Visa (if required), but not the official government fees for it (See costs below)
Pick-up and Transfers from/to Akko or Haifa train station on arrival and departure (you can easily reach these train stations from Tel Aviv Airport)
Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
Orientation and Introduction in Tamra/Haifa
Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
24 Hours emergency support by local support team
50 USD Contribution to your project
Local SIM Card with 30 Shekel air time
Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
Cost for the seedlings of 10 indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro

The Rates do NOT include:

Accommodation and Meals (see below)
Travel to/from Israel (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
Official fees for Visa, if applicable (see below)
Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
Personal Expenses
Vaccinations
Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.

II. Accommodation Costs

You can choose between the following options:

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.

All rates in Shekel! Convert currency

In Tamra
Room at shared house	1 Person (Single Room)	75 Shekel/Day*
Room at shared house	2 Persons p.p. (Twin Room)	60 Shekel/Day*

In Haifa
Room at Halls of Residence	1 Person (Single Room)	2000 Shekel/Month*
Room at Halls of Residence	2 Persons p.p. (Twin Room)	2000 Shekel/Month*

In Tamra: Incomplete months of your stay are paid propotionally per day.

In Haifa: You can only book/pay full months!

In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.

Overview of other costs:

For most nationals no visa costs for a stay of up to 180 days
Meals around 150-200 EUR (180-250 USD)/Month (estimate)
Small local expenses (e.g. local transport): around 30-60 USD/Month (Estimate)
Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month

How do I pay?

Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.

The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.

Extras

Other Projects That Might Interest You:

These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more! Check out our other listings in the areas of "World Learner" and "Active Travel" at your travel destination to make your stay even more interesting.

Travel Health Insurance

We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.

Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.

Tamra

Tamra is part of the metropolitan area Haifa-Akko-Tamra . These three cities are located only 15-30 minutes drive away from each other, and are accessible by buses, train (Akko-Haifa) and taxis. One can easily move between these three places and should look at the three locations as a common metropolitan area.

Tamra (25,000 inhabitants) is located on the hills which rise behind the plains of Akko. With clear weather, from Akko you have a fantastic view over Akko and the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, Tamra is a popular town for short trips for people from the neighbouring cities, who enjoy Tamra's attractively priced traditional Arabic restaurants.

The town is dominated by Arabic Israelis living in extended family clans. Arts, culture and community are highly valued in Tamra; many citizens are highly educated and have studied abroad. They are particularly friendly and open towards foreigners and it is easy for our participants to get integrated into the town community.

Tamra is also famous for its extravagant weddings. There are several locations where weddings are celebrated. During the "wedding season", from May to October, Tamra hosts 7-10 large weddings every day.

The historical port town of Akko (also: Akkon) has around 50,000 inhabitants. Its old town atmosphere is very oriental. Akko has been mentioned in the bible's Old Testament; Alexander the Great, the Romans, Sultan Saladin, and the Crusaders have all been to Akko. Napoleon didn't succeed to conquer the city though. The old town of Akko as a UNESCO World Heritage site is part of every Israel round trip. During the summer, Akko's beach is very populated, and Akko's Arabian market is a popular location for tourists and locals alike.

Haifa (270,000 inhabitants) is after Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel's third largest city. It is a city full of life as there are more than 40,000 students studying at Haifa University and numerous colleges. For that reason, Haifa has a wide selection of bars and clubs. During the summer, the beaches behind Mount Carmel are populated at day and night by young people.

Between Haifa, Akko and Tamra there are not only olive and pomegranate plantations, but also the so-called "Krayots" which are several villages belonging to the wider area of Haifa. They have modern entertainment facilities such as multiplex cinemas, bars and bowling allies.

Recreational Activities in Tamra/Akko/Haifa

There are numerous ways to spend leisure time in Tamra, Akko and Haifa. All cities are full of cultural life. During the hot summer, you can go to the beaches; Tamra also has a public swimming pool.

Day trips in Israel, which can be done from Akko/Tamra/Haifa, include visiting mystical historical sites such as Jerusalem, Nazareth, Safed, the Sea of Galilee and Magito, where, according to the prophecy of Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, the final battle of "Armageddon" will take place. In the nature of the hilly north, it is possible to hike, mountainbike and even ski in the winter time.

Getting There

Getting To Tamra

You book your flight to Tel Aviv (TLV). Look for different airlines, including low cost airlines such as Easyjet, Air Berlin, German Wings, Pegasus Airlines and flyniki. Tip: Search also for nearby Airports in neighboring European countries.

At the airport of Tel Aviv, you can find the train station; the train departs hourly to Akko (also the whole night). From Akko train station, you will be picked up and taken to your accommodation in Tamra.

Please note that from Fridays 4.00 p.m. to Saturdays 4.00 p.m., and on Israeli holidays, no trains run, making it difficult to get from Tel Aviv airport to Akko. You should not book a flight that lands on Fridays after 2.00 p.m. or leaves on Saturdays before 9.00 p.m. We even recommend completely avoiding Saturdays for arrival and departure.

On other days of the week, your flight should not arrive after 7.00 p.m., as the Akko train station pick-up service from 11.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. is not possible. If you cannot book your flight otherwise, you would have to spend a night in Tel Aviv, before you continue traveling to Akko.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?

You can give us your preferred date and we will let you know if it is possible to start on that date. Please note that from Fridays 4.00 p.m. to Saturdays 4.00 p.m., and on Israeli holidays, no trains run, making it difficult to get from Tel Aviv airport to Akko. You should not book a flight that lands on Fridays after 2.00 p.m. or leaves on Saturdays before 9.00 p.m. We even recommend completely avoiding Saturdays for arrival and departure. On other days of the week, your flight should not arrive after 7.00 p.m., as the Akko train station pick-up service from 11.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. is not possible. If you cannot book your flight otherwise, you would have to spend a night in Tel Aviv, before you continue traveling to Akko.

Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?

Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.

During my stay, can I travel around the country?

Of course you can travel around - almost all of our participants do so. Israel is a country with relatively short distances, so you can see a lot of places during weekends.

Is it safe to travel around Israel as a single female traveller?

Approximately 80% of our participants are female and many of them, only about 20 years old. No serious security breach has happened. In Tamra, due to the Islamic culture, you should be careful in your clothing style - avoid skirts or shorts that are significantly shorter than knee-length and low-cut tops. There are other sites of Israel, where it is advisable that you are careful in you behaviour so that you are not seen as "loose". Our counselors on site and our preparation materials elaborate more on this. If you follow these basic things that apply equally to many other places, the risk is minimal.

Is there any security issues that I must be concerned about when travelling to Israel?

If you tell your family or friends about wanting to go for an internship or volunteering to Israel, you will probably hear a lot of advice about safety issues. Israel's image in the media is marked by violent clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians, and conflicts with neighboring countries.

This fear is largely baseless. Around 2 million tourists visit the country every year. Tourists have never been the target of violence and security arrangements in the country are so high, that it is almost impossible that you as a tourist find yourself in a critical situation.

The problematic area is limited geographically to the Gaza Strip. We would not advise you to visit Gaza. This area is anyway cordoned off by security so it is highly unlikely that you find yourself there. The same applies to any places where even a remote conflict could arise. These are preventively shut off, especially around the Old City of Jerusalem. For a day trip to Jerusalem, you should find out in advance whether a visit to the old town is possible. Our local coordinators follow the news daily and you can ask them.

The safety precautions in the country are enormous. At the stations or the main terminal of the buses, there are security checks like at airports, and the checks in the airport of Tel Aviv are more complex than usual.

After the confirmation of your project, if there should be any political instability or security issues, we will refund all your money and advise you against visiting.

Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Tamra?

The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants in Tamra, who you can live with or meet in your spare time, if you desire so. Generally, it is very easy to get along with people in the organisation you work for. You do not have to concerned about being "lonely" in Tamra.

What vaccinations do I need?

Our Info - PDF that you get as a participant, gives detailed information on health care. Also refer to Recommended Vaccinations

Where will I live?

In Tamra, you live in a shared accommodation in the house of a host family (most have a separate entrance), or with a host family. Details are in the tab "Accommodation".

How is the standard of living in Tamra or Israel?

The standard of living in Tamra or Israel is not very different from that in Western Europe or North America. The accommodation that we use are of high standard. The cost of living is comparable to Western Europe or North America, if not slightly more expensive.

How free or bound am I in my accommodation with the host family?

In general, your shared apartment has a private entrance and you live largely independent of the family, if that's how you want it. It is not allowed that without the consent of the host family, you bring people who are not participants of World Unite! to visit or stay over.

Does my accommodation have internet facilities?

Yes, you have wifi internet at the accommodation.

How can I do my laundry?

You can use the washing machine belonging to the host family, paying a fee.

I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?

Yes, this is possible.

What language skills do I need?

You should be able to make yourself understood in English. The mother tongue of the people of Tamra is Arabic. All learn Hebrew and English as foreign languages at school. Most people have at least a basic knowledge of English. Nevertheless, you cannot expect everyone (including the placement supervisor) to speak perfect English. The people are happy about it, if you can at least say a few welcoming and friendly phrases in Arabic.