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StudioLabs: How Israeli Teens are Shaping
Their World Through Technology
STUDENTS AT THE DAAT SCHOOL in Otef Azza, Israel,
have faced a radical year with unprecedented challenges.

Not only must they deal with the day-to-day stress of living
through a global pandemic, but also their close proximity
to the Gaza Strip means living and learning in a war-torn
environment — such as the most recent confl ict between
Hamas and Israel.

Yitzhak Shlomi, principal at the Daat School, recently had
an English class create a “resilience dome,” where students can
escape their harsh realities by producing live events and inter-
active content using novel soft ware and hardware.

“Th e resilience dome can build and empower you, and
that is helpful when times get diffi cult,” said Aviv, whose last
A group of students from Daat School in Otef Azza,
A student from Daat School in Otef Azza, Israel,
name was omitted for anonymity, a 14-year old participant. “It
helps build the resilience dome’s physical structure.

Israel, take a break from working in the resilience
changed the way I see myself and helped me learn that I can do dome to pose for a photo.

Courtesy of StudioLabs
things that I didn’t know I could do.”
Th e resilience dome is part of a larger Jewish Federation of
Greater Philadelphia-funded Israeli initiative known as StudioLabs. StudioLabs is might not have otherwise known. Defying traditional perceptions of farming,
a traveling program, tailored for young teens to identify critical problems within the experience revealed that there is an academic side, a food science side and a
their local communities and work with teachers and facilitators to address them marketing side to the industry.

through technology and storytelling.

StudioLabs is open to all youth, but the real power within its mission is how it
Th ese projects take place in the local Jewish Federation’s partnership regions transforms and empowers the girls in the region. Women, particularly those who
of Netivot and Sdot Negev. Th e idea is to make learning experiential instead are religious, living in the Sdot Negev and Netivot generally have limited options
of passive and to focus the process on real-life problems. Th rough StudioLabs, when it comes to their careers. Combating this reality, StudioLabs provides girls
students explore science, technology, art, creative expression, storytelling and with a supportive environment and women mentors in science.

other 21st century skills, empowering them to grow into strong leaders.

In the more urban area of Netivot, a group of ninth grade girls spearheaded
One of the main goals of the program is to foster strong roots or “place a StudioLab project to address the issue of food waste reduction through the
attachment” to communities, so that the youth feel invested in the future of production of a digital campaign. Praised for its systematic change on a local level,
their regions. By creating projects focused on unique challenges to a given area, the girls presented their campaign to government offi cials and at an international
StudioLabs encourages kids to fi nd pride in their communities and view their conference for corporate social responsibility.

neighborhoods with limitless potential.

From strengthening identity to mobilizing change, the type of StudioLab
“We introduce young teens to things happening in their community that they project is dependent on the region and the people participating. Given all of these
otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to,” explained Boaz Israeli, a StudioLab facilitator. variables, one thing is certain: Wherever they take place, they function as an asset
“Th is provides them with pride, a stronger sense of belonging and resilience, to the community and transform it into an incubator for innovative ideas and
because it changes the way they see opportunities.”
tangible solutions.

During one StudioLab project in Sdot Negev, participants created an interac-
“Th e fact that the Jewish Federation helps enable these projects and that so far
tive media campaign to promote a solution to pest issues which were wreaking they have all taken place in our partnership regions should be a huge source of
havoc on local sunfl ower farms.

pride for Jewish Federation supporters,” said Tali Lidar, director of Israel and global
Th is project not only created a solution for a real-life problem, but it also operations at the Jewish Federation’s Israel offi ce. “Th rough StudioLabs, supporters
exposed students to the possible career paths within agriculture, which they are helping to shape young minds and the way they navigate their world.”
Philadelphia Israel
Experience 18
JUNE 10, 2021
Are you between the ages of 18-20 and looking for a gap
program in Israel? Travel with the Jewish Federation of Greater
Philadelphia and Masa on a highly subsidized, once-in-a-lifetime
experience. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Your journey awaits! Learn more and apply today:
jewishphilly.org/PIE JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM