In the heart of the town of Sderot is a small, pastoral student village run by the Ayalim Association. Every year, some 72 students, many of them studying at the nearby college, move into the village. The village was established in 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, in record time – just 52 days – while under heavy bombardment and ongoing security threats. The vision of the village’s founders and of Ayalim is simple: encouraging students to come to live in challenging areas in the periphery and developing a young community that enjoys convenient living conditions, while supporting the surrounding neighborhood. The students work with the elderly, Holocaust survivors and people with disabilities. They also work with youth-at-risk and help rehabilitate them. Ayalim, which was established in 2003, works in cooperation with Keren Hayesod and with its support. There are 11 student villages throughout the periphery. The young people study in the area, become involved in social welfare activities and initiate volunteer projects to help the local community. Many of them remain in the periphery and establish their home there.
Photo: Students at Ayalim student village, Menahemia, 2009