Students from Israeli sci-tech schools are literally getting up off their chairs and taking responsibility.

As part of the network’s "Youth for the Community" program, Getting Up Off the Chair was established to actively involve Israeli youth in their communities.

Jewish, Arab, Druze and Bedouin students in the three-year program first participate in an intensive one-year leadership and counseling skills-building training workshop that guides their activities over the next two years. During this first year, students learn how to organize and plan activities and develop peer counseling skills.

In the second year of the project, students work in cooperation with the local municipalities to create social activities, tutorial programs and social action events to promote community spirit and bonding. In the third year, students develop activities on a national scale.

In June 2007 the first group of 360 future leaders completed the three year program. Many of the graduates asked the network to add an additional year to the project. Presently, plans are underway to add an optional fourth year with an army deferment for those who participate. The deferred year of army service would be spent promoting community services in development and periphery towns throughout Israel.