eVOLve Superstars
Gain Life Skills Through Social Action
It has only been three years since the Chief Rabbi launched evolve, JLGB’s youth volunteering and skills initiative, but already it has inspired thousands of young people to dedicate a cumulative 104,471 hours of their time volunteering in their communities. We think this huge number of young volunteers giving back to the community is remarkable and the difference they are making to the lives of the less fortunate knows no limit. Here are just some of their volunteering stories.
vInspired Award: Dena Balkin and Tamar Neville: Hasmonean High School for Girls: Jewish Care: The Memory Collectors
Dena Balkin and Tamar Neville aged 17 from Hasmonean High School for Girls visit a dementia ward once a week, in a Jewish Care facility in Golders Green as part of their vInspired Awards which they complete through evolve, JLGB’s youth volunteering and skills initiative. They work together talking to the residents in the early stages of dementia, discovering their life stories and writing them down for the future, to be read when the crippling disease of dementia has progressed such that the residents are no longer able to remember their own past. Each week the girls speak to the same residents, building relationships, learning more about their lives and crafting a detailed book of memories. “They did so much from such a young age and all I do is play video games!” Dena says and even over the phone it’s clear how much both girls enjoy listening to the residents and how interesting they find their stories. Read the full story here.
Yoni Jesner Award: Maya Lachmann: JCoSS: New North London Synagouge: Helping Asylum Seekers
At first it was difficult for JCoSS student Maya Lachmann to ask complete strangers what size socks they needed. She thought it might be embarrassing for the recipient to be asked such an intrusive question by a 14 year old girl such as herself. But showing maturity far beyond her years, Maya quickly realised it was not embarrassing at all. At the New North London Synagogue’s Asylum Seeker’s Drop In, socks along with other basic necessities were in high demand. Read the full story here.
In addition to Dena, Tamar and Maya, the evolve platform supports over 8000 young people by bringing together charities, schools, synagogues and youth movements to connect young people with local volunteering placements. evolve matches placements to the individual’s interests and encourages young people to complete a range of national and community volunteering awards aimed at different ages.
Start your evolve journey by signing up now at www.jlgb.org/evolve
