***Please note: As of February, 2009, BUSTAN is no longer accepting applications for new RESIDENT volunteers/interns. We are however always looking for long-term, skilled volunteers who are willing to assist Bustan's efforts via telecommute. Please send your resume and a brief introduction e-mail to info@bustan.org.
At the heart of Bustan's work are our
volunteers. Jewish and Bedouin Israelis and internationals work together on both short and long-term projects, from building a playground of recycled materials in an unrecognized village, to designing, planting and maintaining our learning sites, to researching new projects and documenting current ones. Volunteers can stay at our Green Center or be placed in a home stay, and can come for visits of a few days or up to a year! We also welcome groups.
BUSTAN staff works closely with our volunteers, and greatly appreciates the opportunity to engage in creative brainstorming with people with energy and vision. Volunteers staying with us for short periods of time are welcome to take part in ongoing projects. Interns, volunteers working with Bustan for at least three months, can take a leading role in helping coordinate projects during their stay or design their own project with BUSTAN staff.
Some of our recent volunteers, interns and groups in residence at the Green Center have included:
--a young Korean woman who began BUSTAN's English classes for Bedouin women and men;
--a delegation from Shomer HaTzair youth group that built a playground out of recycled materials;
--a Spanish agricultural engineer who will be with us for six months, planning our womens' organic gardening project;
--an American PhD student spent six months at BUSTAN doing her research and also coordinated our permaculture course;
--a Bedouin women who hosts homestays and organizes women to do eco-arts projects;
--a young American woman is coordinating our BUSTAN Summer Environmental Camp.
We also have volunteer opportunities for people in other areas of the country, including helping with BUSTAN fundraising, research, and writing. For example, our Tel Aviv volunteer corp include:
--a Dutch woman who works on fundraising and our newsletter;
--a British olah hadashah who is asisting with policy advocacy research
--an Israeli man who is designing a BUSTAN greenbelt project.
In other words, there is something for everyone!
Check out the "previous volunteers" page to get a sense of what kind of experience you can expect.
For more information about volunteering, please contact info@bustan.org . There is also additional information about volunteering on our "get involved" pages.
