The SHaLeM movement (National Service for Adults) runs in IACC-operated community centers throughout the country with approximately 15,000 volunteers. The movement was established 13 years ago in order to offer active retirees meaningful leisure opportunities now available to them.
SHaLeM provides volunteer frameworks appropriate for retirees and senior citizens in order to address community needs.
The main activities of the SHaLem movement:
SHaLeM in Education
SHALeM works to bridge educational gaps and reduce violence in the school system. SHaLeM volunteers assist students and participants in the formal and informal education system to improve the school climate, reduce violence and improve student achievement in basic subjects, in addition to providing enrichment in various fields.
SHaLeM also runs a program entitled "Reading for Pleasure", through which volunteers introduce and help restore a love of books and reading for students in 1st and 2nd grade.
A Traveling Community
SHaLeM volunteers run community clubs to promote hiking and walking, within the framework of IACC community centers.
Green Light ("Or Yarok")
SHaLeM volunteers encourage road safety in cooperation with the "Or Yarok" Association for Safer Driving in Israel. This takes place on two levels: joint senior citizen-youth activities with "Or Yarok" in kindergartens and through "Or Yarok" clubs operating in different localities.
Through Or Yarok's Zahav program, SHaLeM volunteers teach kindergarten students road safety in an experiential and fun way. The program brings together community volunteers, kindergarten students, kindergarten staff, parents and the community in a meaningful way, and all parties involved benefit from it.
Or Yarok Community Clubs: a voluntary organization of local community residents work to promote road safety and prevent road accident casualties in the community.
"Time Bank"
SHaLeM volunteers operate a community network in which every member of the community can contribute his/ her time and talents and in return can receive needed services from other community member.s This community program enables participants to contribute their time on behalf of the community in which they live, based on the principle of equality.
MaLeH ("Community Experts")
A social initiative of the SHaLeM movement carried out in community centers, in cooperation with the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi). SHaLem volunteers, who have worked as accountants, bankers, tax and national insurance consultants, lawyers and top quality professionals - are able to provide free advice and assistance to the general public who cannot afford to pay fees for these services.
"Hall of Giving" - a voluntary project of Carmela School of Volunteering within the framework of SHaLeM and the IACC. The goal of this program is to offer all SHaLeM volunteers professional enrichment and personal empowerment by professional instructors (community volunteers) at community centers in order to give each participant the relevant tools for volunteer work. The meeting between volunteers from various programs and community centers presents an opportunity to create new community networks.