Representatives from leading American service organizations, including Teach for America, Peace Corps, City Year and others, spent last week in Israel exploring volunteering opportunities offered through Masa Israel Journey.

With young adults’ growing interest in international volunteer opportunities, Masa Israel, a joint project of the government and the Jewish Agency for Israel, is making Israel a global hub for service programs.

This year, Masa Israel will bring 10,000 participants to Israel on 180 five-to-12-month volunteering, career development and academic programs. Masa Israel participants invest thousands of hours of community service in Israeli society each year.

Masa Israel’s “A Better Stimulus Plan” engages thousands of recent college graduates in exploring these opportunities in Israel.

The tour and the emphasis on growing volunteer and social activism opportunities in Israel reinforces the new direction of the Jewish Agency as reflected in its strategic plan. The agency has chosen to increase the number of young adults coming to Israel on its programs and to increase opportunities for social activism in Israel.

The week-long tour included visits to volunteer programs in the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem areas and consultation sessions with policymakers and senior practitioners.