Cory & Lexi

 

“When we were in Kenya, we were inspired learning the work that MASHAV does, specifically around agriculture initiatives.  Upon returning to Boston we were excited to share a bit of the MASHAV story and some of their initiatives in Kenya with the next generation of teen Jewish leaders in Massachusetts.  We partnered with BBYO and ran a hands-on and engaging activity at BBYO’s New England Region Fall Convention where 100 Jewish teens age 14 - 18 were able to learn a bit more about the history of Israeli innovation in agriculture as well as the global impact it has today through MASHAV.  The best part was that most of the teens weren’t familiar with MASHAV prior to the program so we were really able to open their minds to Israel in a new light, something many of them were eager to continue to research and get involved with after our program.”

 

Danielle

 

"Traveling to Kenya with CJP was such an inspiring trip that I wanted to tell as many people as possible about my experience. And what better way to do that than a podcast?! Fortunately, I had the unique opportunity to co-host an episode of CJP’s israel360 podcast. I interviewed the executive chairman of one of the sites we visited in Kenya and answered questions about my own experience as a trip participant. I shared why I went to Kenya and why I (highly!) recommend the trip. We also spoke with Ronald Diang’a from an organization called Kenarava about farming in Kenya, Israel’s involvement with his organization, getting Kenyan youth excited about agriculture, and much more! I hope listeners from far and wide tune in to hear about Kenarava and my experience with Project Inspire."

 

Erin

 

“The Kenyan approach to sustainability and conservation was evident throughout our trip. One practice I found to be very creative was the repurposing of single use plastic containers into plant pots. For my project, I met with teens who attended the North Shore Teen Initiative’s Souper Sunday event, which taught the teens about food insecurity. I spoke with the teens about MASHAV’s amazing work of tackling food insecurity in developing nations by sharing the tools that helped make Israeli agriculture successful. The teens also had the opportunity to replicate the repurposing we saw throughout Kenya, by planting vegetable seeds in planters they made out of plastic bottles.”

 

Hallie

 

 

“Before my trip to Kenya, I knew nothing about MASHAV or the connection between Israel and Kenya.  I believe that youth who grow up knowing about Israel will be the best advocates for Israel when they grow up, so I wanted to share my experience with a group of Hebrew School students at my temple, Temple Hillel B'nai Torah in West Roxbury.  I shared photos, told stories, listened to Gilad Milo's hits, and led an interactive activity to build two farms - one without Israeli technology, and one with drip irrigation. The kids had fun thinking about how to use drip irrigation to develop more crops and were so creative in their approach!  At the end, they were excited to share what they learned with their families!”

 

Jenn

 

“For me, Project Inspire was the most incredible, transformative trip that opened my eyes to the amazing work that Israel does around the world, partnering with communities in sustainable ways to change lives for the better. I shared my Project Inspire experience with an intergenerational group of 35 people that included both residents at Hebrew Senior Life and young professional volunteers through JCRC’s ReachOut! program. Both the senior residents and the JCRC young professional volunteers enjoyed hearing about Israel's rich history of collaborating with Kenya, particularly in the industries of agriculture, education, health care, and women's empowerment that I saw firsthand on the ground through Project Inspire. Those involved in the discussion came away inspired and bonded through a shared admiration of Israel, from across different generational perspectives.”

 

Jonathan

 

“I hosted a Shabbat dinner to share my experience traveling to Kenya with Project inspire. I explained the purpose of the trip - to learn about the Israel’s international development work in Kenya, meet its people, and make connections with other young Jews in the Boston area. Then I shared photos of our visits to farms, schools, and health clinics, as well encounters with giraffes and warthogs. I also showed the items I brought back, such as a Masai blanket and clay animal figures handmade by women. There was a lot of interest in the trip, and many asked about future opportunities to travel and learn about new cultures and see firsthand the work Israel is doing to improve the world. Many learned for the first time that Israel funded international development. At this dinner, they could see the tangible results of sustainable development, and they left wanting to know more.”

 

Jordan

 

“Having spent the first half of my life in Israel, I’ve always been proud to be Israeli. The things I saw and learned on my Project Inspire trip not only strengthened this feeling, but also made me eager to make a difference of my own. I want others to experience Israel’s innovation first hand and build a community of friends back in Boston like I did. For my follow-up project, I shared my personal experience at a Shabbat dinner with 15 young Jewish adults in my LEADS group. I hope others choose to participate on the next Project Inspire trip so they too can be inspired.”

 

Lauren

 

“I wrote an article for eJewish Philanthropy, an independent online publisher and facilitator of resources for the professional Jewish community. My goal with the article was to try and capture the essence of what we experienced in Kenya. When applying for the trip, the first-hand narratives played a large part in my decision to apply. If a story is told well, you can picture yourself there. That was my goal - to show others and aid in the understanding of the greater work of Israel and MASHAV abroad. Since the publishing of the article, I've been humbled by the social shares and responses from friends and acquaintances and hope it has encouraged some to apply for a Project Inspire trip.”

 

Stephen

 

“I was intrigued by how Kenyans are using their land to drive change in local communities.  On the trip, I saw many examples of Kenyans who are applying their knowledge from Israel to teach sustainability in schools and run efficient farming operations. For my follow-up project, I shared my experience at a community evening at Moishe House Brookline, a home for fellow young Jewish adults to share our love for community, ethnic cuisine, and learning about our heritage.  Following my talk, I served Kenyan cuisine, including chapati and maharagwe alongside Israeli hummus and falafel.  It was rewarding to give back to one of the first places I turned to in Boston to explore what Judaism means to me.”

 

Tami

 

“After returning from Project Inspire in Kenya, I was excited to share my experience with the Boston Jewish community. I spoke at a CJP event about how seeing Israel bring tikun olam to life in Kenya transformed my understanding of the country's history, ethos, and intentions. The partnerships between the state of Israel and Kenya are deep, sustainable, and smart. The event wrapped up with a discussion of our individual interpretation of 'Global Jewish Citizenship' and how our Jewish identities impact the values we live. For me, it’s a marriage of the lessons my family passed down from generation to generation across Israel, Europe, and the United States. And now, Kenya.”