Gush Etzion Foundation

Community: Alon Shvut
When Alon Shvut was established 45 years ago, its founders dreamed of it serving as a center for the other communities of Gush Etzion which were small and few in number. Today Alon Shvut is home to 3,500 residents, 400 of whom are youngsters aged 13-18. A number of important institutions are located in Alon Shvut. They include the Har Etzion Hesder Yeshiva, with hundreds of students; the Tzomet Institute which develops technologies that address the halakhic challenges of the modern state and includes a visitors’ center; the Shalva Center for children with disabilities; and others.

The project: Youth Club
Our youth are involved in outstanding volunteer work that benefits society as a whole: summer camps for children with disabilities, participation in nationwide projects and a number of local initiatives. To date, however, the youth of Alon Shvut have had no proper place to serve as their activity hub. In recent years they have used a temporary structure and plans for a permanent youth club were only recently completed. We are now ready to embark on construction of a new, high-quality youth club that is worthy of our younger generation. The 120 sq.m. structure will house all the services relating to youth activities including an office for the youth coordinator, a kitchenette and restrooms, a screen, furniture and sports equipment.
The club will be located on the lower floor of the Alon Shvut Committee Offices, at a reasonable distance from residential homes but still close to the center of communal life.