Israel Connect Logo

Every child in Israel deserves equal access to education

You can transform a young person’s life by simply chatting weekly over Zoom in English

Israel Connect Logo

Every child in Israel deserves equal access to education

You can transform a young person’s life by simply chatting weekly over Zoom in English.

IsraelConnect2023-08-02T13:04:54-04:00

Become A Mentor

Give one hour,
one morning a week

Sponsor A Student

Sponsor a student for as little as $18/month

Lack of English is the #1 barrier to economic and social mobility in Israel

Mastering English is crucial for success in Israel. Universities and high-paying jobs require a high level of English language proficiency. However, the current educational landscape presents a significant challenge. Immersive language experiences, proven to be the most effective way to learn, are impractical in overcrowded classrooms. It is virtually impossible for 30-40 students to engage in effective English conversations and interactions, and experiences outside the classroom are prohibitively expensive.

This reality has created a profound divide, with English proficiency becoming the primary obstacle that shuts out children lacking English skills from the global economy. This disparity is unjust, as children should not miss out on a brighter future simply because they lack the opportunity to practice English conversationally.

Make a big difference with a little time and an internet connection

  • No teaching experience necessary

  • No computer skills needed

  • No Hebrew language required

Become A Mentor

At Israel Connect, we know that nothing unlocks a child’s future like knowing English

Our success speaks for itself. We’ve grown by word of mouth and are now the number one external provider of services to Israel’s Department of Education.

  • That’s why we provide hundreds of kids yearly with an efficient and effective way to learn English—simply by chatting with a mentor over Zoom.

  • We provide the systems, curriculum, training, security, substitutes, and technical support to support our mentors and give our students the immersion experience they need.

Become A Mentor

Sponsor A Student

Become A Mentor

98.4% of students are extremely happy with their mentors and feel their mentors care a lot about their successes.

Change a student's LIFE...

Change a country's FUTURE!

Volunteer to be a mentor

Starting is easy - simply complete a background check and an easy training session

Give one hour, one morning a week

We’ll assign you an Israeli High School student whom you’ll chat with weekly in English over Zoom

We take care of the rest

We’ll provide the support and systems you need to ensure your mentoring is impactful

“I have no doubt that the hundreds of hours the Israel Connect mentors poured into our students will have a positive effect on our entire country for years to come.”

Photo of Tziona Levi

Dr. Tziona Levi
Director of English Education, Israel’s Ministry of Education

Become A Mentor

  • Who: 9th and 10th grade students & their mentors

  • What: One hour weekly Zoom sessions in English
  • When: North American morning, Israeli evening Sunday- Thursday

  • Why: Students need to improve their English before they write their university entry exam in 11th grade.

Want to amplify your impact?

Sponsor a student for as little as $18/month. Charitable tax receipts provided for $CAD and $USD donations.

Sponsor A Student

Become A Mentor

There’s a reason we’re the #1 English Immersion Program in Israel

Over the last decade, we’ve perfected the systems and processes to ensure efficient and effective connections. Our staff makes sure our mentors are supported and make sure our students are online and on time. We provide:

  • Mentor training & best practices

  • Scheduling and subbing

  • Student accountability & attendance

  • A ministry-aligned curriculum

  • Software and automation

  • Technical support to our mentors
  • Security for minors and mentors

  • Testing for our students

  • Communication with teachers and parents

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it work?2023-07-06T19:52:54-04:00

Immersion is the way all of us have learnt our mother tongue. In fact, it is the only way to properly learn a language. Israel Connect has chosen an online, immersive approach because research demonstrates that it works. Language immersion is proven to not only be one of the most effective ways to learn a language, it is one of the most enjoyable ways as well. We are proud of our success in eliminating barriers to English language education!

What kind of mentors are you looking for?2023-07-06T19:55:48-04:00

The ideal mentor is generally a retired or semi-retired individual with an hour to spare in the morning, but we happily welcome anyone who is available to make the weekly commitment.

In addition to the growing group of committed mentors of all ages, Israel Connect also reaches out to senior centres to provide them with this wonderful interaction. Through technical training, Israel Connect allows even less mobile people to connect weekly with a student, enhancing their lives with a fun and meaningful virtual visit while enabling them to contribute. It has been proven time and time again that consistent human interactions can greatly impact the quality of life of the aged, and our students are in a position to have a tremendously positive impact. A real win-win situation!

What if I’m not available for my session one week?2023-07-06T19:57:14-04:00

If you’re ever unavailable to hold your scheduled session, you can reschedule with your student, or we are happy to provide a substitute.

What curriculum do you use?2023-07-04T17:01:02-04:00

Our curriculum was developed based on the collective input of our mentors, who overwhelmingly voted to explore Israel’s rich and diverse landscapes. While the Ministry of Tourism offers both a Jewish and a Christian track, we have embraced a Jewish focus to deepen students’ understanding of their heritage. Our program aims to enhance students’ vocabulary through engaging reading comprehension exercises and stimulating conversations, particularly emphasizing Jewish cultural and historical aspects. While writing and grammar receive less emphasis, our approach prioritizes building practical communication skills. Join us on this captivating journey as we delve into the cultural tapestry of Israel, expand linguistic horizons, and forge lasting connections between students and mentors. Together, we will embark on an enriching exploration of the English language within the context of Israel’s captivating history and Jewish heritage. For a sample curriculum, please click here.

What are the technology requirements to be a mentor?2023-04-07T14:56:42-04:00

We just ask that our mentors have a computer, phone or tablet with internet access, and an email address where we can send our curriculum and updates. We provide trainings and tech support to use our online video conferencing platform.

How is Israel Connect funded?2023-04-07T14:57:08-04:00

Israel Connect is built upon a foundation of people who are committed to ensuring all Israeli youth have access to English language learning. We are funded by the generous support of our donors. We do have a suggested donation of $18 a month to cover costs. In this way, many of our mentors partner with us in not only giving their time, but ensuring we can cover our costs as well.

Become A Mentor

Give one hour,
one morning a week

Sponsor A Student

Sponsor a student for as little as $18/month

Testimonials

Every Thursday we stay after school and talk and read with the volunteers about places in Israel. Each time I had the best time, we learned a lot about the language, how to pronounce difficult words, and the volunteers are really nice so we enjoy a lot. I really recommend you to try Israel Connect.

Hodaya Koskas, Lod, Israel

Thank you Israel Connect for improving my English!

Shira Ben Shimol, Israel
This program is amazing. I highly recommend it!
Yael Shawat, Israel

I’ve enjoyed every second of talking with the volunteers in this Project; Israel Connect to me it’s an amazing experience. I enjoyed especial talking with the volunteer Jerry.

Noam Levi, Lod, Israel

I like The Israel Connect Program because I can spend time doing something that is both educational and fun at the same time.

Roee Ben Noon, Israel

From the moment I was asked to participate in the program I was thrilled to take part in it and continue to be. I am able to ‘visit’ on Zoom, with a remarkable young woman who knows a great deal of English but has had little opportunity to speak English outside of the classroom. We try to visit weekly and learn together. As my young friend’s confidence and skills soar, I get to virtually tour the land of Israel as we read and discuss. We enjoy speaking with one another which is why we have continued to be in touch during the summer. We talk about Israel, school life, holidays and whatever else comes to mind. This program offers improved English skills for the student, as well as enhanced learning for both the student and the fortunate volunteer who gets to speak learn with an enthusiastic young person weekly!

Judy R., Ottawa, Canada

What a terrific program! The Israel Connect volunteer program is a simple concept with a big impact. As a volunteer I enjoy the privilege of interacting on a weekly basis with motivated and enthusiastic Israeli students. It has been a pleasure getting to know them and to witness their improving fluency. I also appreciate the opportunity to improve my Hebrew as part of the process!

Linda Lewinter, W. Boynton, USA

When I first heard about this program I thought it was great, and was happy to have the opportunity to participate. It’s wonderful to be able to connect with young people and virtually explore the land of Israel. I look forward to connecting with them each week and I believe they feel the same way. Most of all it’s very rewarding to see how the students have improved in their reading and comprehension as time goes on. I have found this program to be a very valuable experience.

Roberta G., Ottawa, Canada
I heard about IsraelConnect from a friend and I was very eager to join, but very nervous to present in front of someone every week. I’m a very shy person and never had the confidence it took to really learn the language, this year through meeting weekly with my volunteer in Canada, I feel much more comfortable. My “friend” in Canada is a very caring person and offers to help beyond the Zoom meetings, she even helps with my homework.
Ayali H., Jerusalem, Israel

I presently work with three groups of students. Each group is different but each group is intelligent, motivated, appreciative, inquisitive, and polite. It is wonderful to be able to work with these students. They give me a sense of meaning and self-worth.

Barrett Brickel, Ottawa, Canada

Sunday  mornings have been special for many years. Connecting to the students has been most rewarding. Two years ago, inspired by one student, we decided to revisit Israel. This is proving to be a win win situation for us.

Bev Grostern, Ottawa, Canada

We joined to the project because we love to speak English with other people. Our experience from the project is that we meet other people from other places in the world, and learn with them about places in Israel, and also we learn with them about their personal lives. We learn on one of the people that we talked to with that he is Jewish and he is celebrating all the Jewish holidays. To sum up, we recommend you to be on the project it is a great fun experience.

Alina and Orpaz, Lod, Israel

I enjoy talking to my volunteer Andy. Thank you!

Moria Lifshits, Israel

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