A Local-to-National Program for Building a Shared Society
A Givat Haviva flagship program, Shared Communities is a bold, concrete response to the urgent challenge of creating a socially cohesive society in Israel. The program builds structured, multi-level cooperation between pairs of communities alienated from each other by the most critical social divides that threaten the democratic fabric of Israel today: Jewish/Arab, secular/religious, affluent/poor and new immigrant/veteran citizens, among others. Israeli citizens and local leadership are engaged across these divides through the creation of inter-community alliances and frameworks that facilitate joint action around common values, projects and goals.
By actively demonstrating the mutual benefits of cooperation in the day-to-day experience of a wide cross-section of divided populations, the program builds the sustainable underpinnings for creating a shared future and shared society. Local activity is linked to broader efforts that will facilitate replication across Israel – advancing peaceful, economic and social development on a national scale.
Objectives:
- Generating Dialogue: Open new channels of communication and dialogue as a basis for fostering social cohesion among divided groups;
- Creating Sustainable Frameworks: Develop sustainable mechanisms for cooperation within and between divided communities;
- Building Capacity: Train participating communities to design and implement inter-community programs that address joint needs and advance mutual interests;
- Activating Joint Projects: Mobilize people as catalysts for change, empowering them to work together across divides to implement community-based projects;
- Facilitating Action Research: Conduct action research through a think tank dedicated to consolidating insights, best practices, and lessons learned from the program's activities - forging a model of shared community-building that can inform future programs in Israel and other divided societies;
- Expanding Impact: Convene local, national and global actors to communicate outcomes and conclusions, in order to have an impact on a national and international scale.
