Israel – Desert Eco-Kibbutz Internship – Images

The international beach resort of Eilat is only 50 kilometers away by bus (approximately $5 USD one-way), if participants want to enjoy some snorkeling, go to an internet cafe or enjoy the vibrant nightlife. For those that want to see the rest of the country, it is easy to use public transportation and explore Tel Aviv or the north of Israel and no trip would be complete without a mud bath and float in the Dead Sea.

This Internship provides a practical training program in hands-on sustainable engineering, systems design and cooperative living. Interns spend an intensive 4 weeks on an intentional community in southern Israel, their time divided between formal studies and the physical application of what they have learned.

We expose interns to the challenges involved with the design, building and running of sustainable projects, linking ecological, social, economic and cultural aspects into a unified whole. You will gain practical skills through hands-on project work in our environmental education center, eco-campus and organic gardens. At the end of the program, participants receive an internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate.

Program topics include:

• Permaculture and Ecological Design
• Sustainable Agriculture and Local Organic Food Production
• Natural and Alternative Building and Construction
• Appropriate Eco-Technologies
• Regenerative Community

Interns live in the Eco-Campus — a prototype model for sustainable living that is a learning experience. Living quarters are super-insulated straw-bale and earth plastered geodesic domes built on-site by previous program participants. The domes are passive solar heated and use significantly less energy to cool compared to conventional buildings. Composting toilets and grey-water systems conserve water in our hyper-arid region. The low-impact communal environment encourages organic food preparation, sharing of talents and creative celebrations as part of the community building processes and is an integral part of the educational experience of the program.

The program lasts for one month (31 days). During the program, two Fridays are free and two Fridays are half days (until 12:30). Saturdays are free days. A typical day during the summer is 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM. In winter, the days are from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Occasionally, there are also evening activities. The program always starts on a Monday and finishes on a Wednesday.

Internet: WiFi is available.

Laundry: There is a laundry room on the campus.

Accommodations: Participants will share single-gender eco-huts. There will be up to three volunteers per hut. Rooms are equipped with beds, air conditioning, shelves, pillows and linens (Participants need to bring towels) The bathroom facilities contain compost toilets. On the kibbutz campus, there is a teahouse, dining room, pool (seasonal), football pitch, basketball court and pub which are available to interns.

Food: Three meals are provided each day. The local team can accommodate for vegetarian and vegan diets. Most meals during the program are prepared and eaten at the EcoCampus, which is vegan. Friday night dinners are in the kibbutz dining room where meat is served and vegetarian options are available.

• Minimum age of 18
• High level of English
• Participants should be in good physical shape

On the kibbutz, there is a teahouse, dining room, pool (seasonal), football pitch and basketball court. There are pub nights and cultural activities that interns are welcome to take part in.

The local staff can help arrange guided tours of popular destinations such as Petra, Jerusalem and Timna Park and help organize desert hikes.