Professional and Leadership Development
AJWS World Partners Fellowship enhances fellows’ professional and leadership skills through the following components:
Orientation
Fellows attend a month-long orientation and language exposure in their country of service before beginning their volunteer placements. Topics include:
- Introduction to AJWS’ mission and strategies;
- Navigating cross-cultural issues at work and beyond;
- Safety and security;
- Jewish values and international justice;
- An overview of macro and micro development issues in the region and AJWS’ regional development strategies;
- Language classes to enhance existed language skills or provide initial exposure to a new language.
Regional Retreats
While volunteering, fellows attend regional retreats that include:
- Interactive seminars about international development in their region;
- Skills training workshops that will help fellows become more effective volunteers and prepare them for careers in social change;
- A study of the connections between Jewish values, traditions and social justice work in a pluralistic environment;
- Individual and group reflection about fellows’ experiences volunteering and living in their countries of service.
These retreats are facilitated by AJWS staff and local consultants.
Online Community
Participants have online discussions, post to a common blog and share resources through a private platform, allowing fellows to converse about common challenges and successes.
Closing Domestic Conference
After completing their volunteer service, fellows are required to attend a closing conference in the United States. The conference focuses on helping fellows integrate their experiences abroad into their lives in the U.S., including advocacy on behalf of AJWS’ project partners and education of the American Jewish community around international justice. The conference also includes skills-building sessions designed to assist fellows in preparing for the next steps in their careers.
