Roee Azizi is the founder of Hinenu, a movement dedicated to renewing Israel through a new generation of pioneers. After October 7 and his reserve service in the Negev, he left his previous life, moved to the region, and called on young Israelis to help rebuild the country's frontier communities. More than 300 answered that call.
In just two years, Hinenu has become one of Israel's leading grassroots initiatives for national renewal. It has received national and international awards for social innovation during a crisis, built partnerships with the office of Israel's President, local communities, and Jewish organizations across the United States, and helped strengthen the recovery and long-term growth of the Western Negev and Galilee, regions in which Jewish National Fund-USA has invested billions over recent decades. Azizi believes Israel's greatest resource is people with the courage to take responsibility. He envisions a pioneering society with thousands of young changemakers who will build Israel's future from the ground up.