The Youth Academy for Leadership "If one does not always try to reach upwards, he will fall downwards against his will." Background and Objective The privatization process currently underway in Israeli society does not apply solely to governmental companies. It is a process which affects the feelings of friendship and shared destiny of the Israeli people as a whole. Social concern has been replaced by an individual concern for personal achievements, and the sense of solidarity is crumbling. One of the expressions of the moral crisis which has befallen Israeli society is the sharp decrease in motivation for military service. The Youth Academy was established in order to breathe new life into ancient values - to encourage high motivation for a significant military service in the IDF through reviving the Zionist heritage from its ruins. Furthermore, the academy strives to nurture a comprehensive sense of social leadership which derives from a profound Jewish identity, social perceptiveness and loyalty to Zionism. Target Audience The academy welcomes high-school graduates from across Israel. Educational Approach 1. Community Life: Establishing social commitment and discouraging egoism by building a solidarity group in which the students live, study and create, as a model of the exemplary Israeli society to which the Academy strives. 2. Intellectual Environment: The Academy stimulates its students' curiosity and intensifies their desire for knowledge through meetings with inspirational lecturers and educational groups. The object of these studies is to assist the students in shaping their moral world while establishing a tolerant Zionist personality based upon broad knowledge and education. 3. Initiative and Leadership: Day-to-day life at the academy is run by the students themselves. Each student gains practical experience in management, running a team, taking initiative and lecturing. These responsibilities build a sense of self trust in the students' own leadership capabilities. Furthermore, in order to strengthen their influence, the students learn the art of rhetoric and expository and creative writing. 4. Preparation for Service and Geography: The establishment of a personality prepared for significant military service, in which the value of loving one's fellowman and homeland are branded. The academy preaches high standards of assignment completion, integration and respect for people in every place, and the vision of the IDF as the social melting pot of Israel. Alongside the mental preparation, the program of physical preparation includes navigation, cross-country field trips, survival and an intensive sports program. 5. Contribution to the Community: Each student at the academy takes part in a social project, and works on it with persistence and perseverance. Through this process, students experience first hand the social challenges faced by Israeli society, the different within it, and the different ways one can effect change and make an impact. Study Period The youth academy provides a one-year program between September and August. Inquiries Please contact us by e-mail, or telephone at +972-2-590-5992/3.