These days, as the education system in Israel faces a shortage of professional teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and ongoing challenges—especially in the periphery—social-community initiatives are of critical importance. Against this backdrop, when most of us are used to using Zoom for work meetings or family calls, B’nai B’rith volunteers have chosen to turn the screen into a tool for meaningful social change.
The image is familiar to many: A student in a peripheral elementary school wants to speak English, wants to succeed—but fear of criticism and lack of confidence leave the words stuck inside. This is where the volunteers come in, providing much more than an English lesson; they create a human encounter of listening, encouragement, and trust through the CLICK & CONNECT initiative of B’nai B’rith, which does not aim to replace the education system but to strengthen it and provide children with a personal, attentive, and empowering supplement—support that the system, despite its many efforts, sometimes struggles to provide. The initiative proves that geographical distance is no longer an obstacle to reducing educational and social gaps in the periphery. The program’s goal is not only grammar learning, but primarily building self-confidence. In a personal, “one-on-one” conversation, in a warm, accepting, and nonjudgmental atmosphere, children gain a rare and simple opportunity—to speak. An opportunity that is not always possible in a crowded, noisy classroom.
For years, the initiative has operated successfully with B’nai B’rith Australia volunteers bridging thousands of kilometers, and in the past year, the B’nai B’rith Israel leadership joined for the first time with two pioneering groups, with results that are inspiring every time. Leah Patron, coordinator of B’nai B’rith volunteers in the initiative, says: “There are children who start without knowing a word, and by the end of the session, they are already smiling and able to construct a sentence. The volunteers represent an educational and social force and prove that mutual responsibility and technology together can bridge gaps and provide equal opportunity.”
How does it work? The volunteering takes place entirely from home, for just one hour per week. Volunteers connect to a fixed link, meet the teacher in the main room, and from there move to a personal conversation with a student from grades 4–6. For about half an hour, the conversation revolves around everyday topics—hobbies, family, holidays, and any subject that interests the children. At the end, they return to the group for brief feedback and finish the session with a deep sense of satisfaction that lasts for the entire week.