Diller Teen Fellowship registration
The Zionist Federation of Australia has announced that registration for the second cohort of the Diller Teen Fellowship is now open.
The Diller Teen Fellows program is a leadership development initiative designed to create an international network of Jewish teenagers to serve as effective leaders. After its first highly successful year in Melbourne, the Zionist Federation of Australia is opening registration for the second cohort in 2016/2017.
The International Diller Teen Fellows program is one of the world’s most respected leadership and cultural exchange opportunities for Jewish teenagers. Year 9 and 10 students of leadership potential are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity to be a part of an international Jewish leadership program, which is based on the pillars of Jewish identity, Israel, Tikkun Olam (social justice) and leadership.
Melbourne is the first Australian community to join the Diller “family”, through the auspices of the Zionist Federation of Australia. We are delighted that our partner community is the Golan region.
Over the 15 months of programming (September 2016-December 2017) Fellows will participate in workshops, local residential retreats, a week of hosting their counterparts from our partners in the Golan during their visit to Melbourne in March 2017 and travel to Israel participate in the Israel Summer Seminar for three weeks in July 2017 along with over 600 fellows from around the world.
The program opens the door to a deeply personal and life changing exploration of Jewish identity and provides tools for leadership and activism.
Ellie Golvan, the ZFA Diller Teen Fellows coordinator says: – “This amazing program really gives the fellows an opportunity to see their place in a global Jewish world.”
It is a selective, program that brings twenty year 9 and 10 students from Melbourne together with twenty from the Golan every year. Cohort 1 comprised participants from the Jewish Day schools as well as from non-Jewish schools who represent the diverse nature of our community.
The feedback from participants has been incredible. Sasha Fink, 16 from Mount Scopus said: – “Diller challenged and pushed me to grow as a leader.”
“Diller has given me a lot more confidence for the future when it comes to being a leader in our community,” said Amy Gilbert, 16, McKinnon Secondary College
Parents of the Diller Teen Fellows are extremely supportive of the program, Debbie Amar (parent) said: – “Despite having been in Israel numerous times in her life, Diller has given my child an opportunity to create lifelong friendships with the Golan group and this means that the next two months will be spent impatiently waiting for her Israel experience to start. Zionistic already, she feels a deeper connection to Israel now and also to her Judaism.”
Diller Teen Fellows and alumni from around the world (there are over 2000) are encouraged to form an international network of Jewish leaders who will creatively and collaboratively engage in activism and community leadership.
ZFA Executive Director Ginette Searle says: – “Diller Teen alumni are known to be active, effective leaders with a strong Jewish and Zionist identity. We at the ZFA believe this initiative will be transformative for the Australian and global Jewish community.
At a time when it is increasingly difficult to engage young adults in Jewish and Israel-related activity, the potential of this program, which provides tools, knowledge and importantly motivation for young leaders to take continuing active roles is priceless.”
For further information Cohort 2 or to RSVP to our “Open House Information night, 7:30pm, 11 August contact Ellie Golvan, dillertf@zfa.com.au. Apply today http://www.zfa.com.au/diller-teen-fellows-2/
