About Ami-Chai Mechina
The Ami-Chai pre-army leadership academy (‘Mechina’) Located in kibbutz Kramim in the northern Negev, a unique community and the only mixed kibbutz of Orthodox, traditional and secular Jews.
Ami-Chai engages young Israelis, high school graduates – girls and boys, secular, traditional and religious – who are interested in postponing their military service in favor of a year of exploring their Jewish-Israeli identity, deepen their love of Israel, hard work, community service, preparation for a meaningful military service, pioneership, learning and listening.
The mechina’s vision – to empower and develop leadership, to be the place where students go through a personal and group growth journey, where they form their identity and clarify their values toward a life full of social-Zionist, Jewish, Israeli fulfillment on their way to building an exemplary community in Israel and tikkun olam.
The mechina’s students live in a magical site in the kibbutz. They experience an active community life alongside meaningful learning, and volunteer work.
To prepare for their military service, the students exercise regularly, and attend lessons and workshops. Every few weeks, the group goes on an educational Seminar or an empowering hike.
Ami-Chai Mechina is characterized by aspirations for excellence, perseverance and seriousness, alongside a family atmosphere – built on simplicity, respectful discourse and hard work – that brings students together.
About Retamim Program
Retamim program was founded a few years ago to cultivate young leadership in the Negev. The program engages a diverse group of high school students from Israel’s southern periphery. It’s a diverse group that targets youth from all the communities living in Negev cities. The group includes religious, traditional and secular youth from all genders.
Retamim is a three year program for students in their 10th to 12th year of school. It’s meant for ambitious, value-driven teenagers, who are interested in making a positive impact on their future in the area. It takes place mostly in weekend seminars.
In the program, students meet visionaries, change agents and activists from different places in Israel. They study current events and challenges in the Israeli society in depth, and hold deep conversations about personal, regional and Jewish-Israeli identity. Retamim combines two paths – leadership capability development, and exposure to Mechina programs and other gap year options. Program instructors are Ami-Chai students. They’re responsible for creating the seminars and providing personal mentorship. They act as older siblings to Retamim students.
We believe in the Negev’s youth’s capability, and the ability to build a better, rooted and creative society in this wonderful region.