Announcing the JDC-BBYO Global Service Fellowship

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and BBYO launched a new overseas service fellowship for BBYO alumni, the JDC-BBYO Global Service Fellowship. This new initiative will place four BBYO alumni in JDC’s Jewish Service Corps for one year to work with overseas Jewish communities on their most pressing welfare, Jewish renewal and humanitarian needs and develop teen programming and connections to Jewish life through BBYO’s innovative leadership programming and international network. The JDC-BBYO Global Service Fellowship is receiving initial support from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

“The JDC-BBYO Global Service Fellowship speaks to the definitive power of service to transform the lives of young Jews eager for a chance to make a difference in the world. We are truly fortunate that our long-time partners and friends at the Schusterman Family Foundation are once again helping us strengthen our important ties to BBYO and to Jewish service around the globe,” said JDC’s CEO Steven Schwager.

In addition to their day-to-day service agenda, JDC-BBYO Global Service Fellows will help connect North American Jewish teens with their peers abroad and facilitate the participation of these teen peers in BBYO gatherings. This connection speaks directly to BBYO’s teen-led agenda addressed by the International Teen Co-President Jeremy Sherman: "We couldn’t be more excited to strengthen BBYO’s ties to the global Jewish community. As BBYO teens, we feel a strong connection to Jewish teens everywhere, and we have long felt that bringing Jewish youth from around the world closer together should be a priority. It is inspiring to see that vision become a reality.”

“We are excited about the collaboration between BBYO and JDC, who will be working in close partnership to engage Jewish teens, strengthen global Jewish community and involve young professionals in meaningful service work,” said Lisa Eisen, national director of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and a member of BBYO’s Board of Directors. “This initiative will forge important connections between Jewish teens across the globe as they work to repair the world and build a vibrant Jewish future.”

BBYO staff will also provide training as part of JDC’s Jewish Service Corps Orientation and contribute to long-distance learning opportunities for the Fellows. Fellowship placements could include locations such as India, Turkey, Israel, Poland, Estonia, Serbia, or Ukraine. Interested BBYO alumni can learn more about the program at www.JDC.org/JewishServiceCorps JDC’s existing collaborations with BBYO include a growing number of BBYO alumni applying to JDC’s Jewish Service Corps, BBYO teens raising thousands of dollars for JDC’s global programs, and JDC providing updates and speakers on global issues to Jewish teens. Most recently, a former BBYO International Teen President, Shauna Ruda, served as a JDC Jewish Service Corps Fellow working to connect Turkish Jewish teens and the community to BBYO.

To apply for the JDC-BBYO Global Service Fellowship, please visit the JDC website.