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Mechina participants sitting in a circle on the grass

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A place to become a leader.|
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Our Mechina

Mechina participants standing in a circle in the dessert with hiking backpacks on the ground.

The year-long Mechina is a 10-month gap year program in Israel that is built from a diverse mix of theoretical learning, external educational campuses, field series, meetings with different populations, lecturers, and more. In this gap year program, participants gain the ability to influence the fate of our society and country by being exposes to a wide range of diverse and sometimes opposing opinions.

The Mechina gives participants an opportunity of a one-year pause from the crazy race of life. During this year, it guides them through personality-development, strengthen knowledge of Israel and Judaism, and gain personal abilities that will help through the rest of their lives.

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Program Details

Length

10 months

Start Date

Aug 27, 2024

End Date

Jun 29, 2025

Location

Kibbutz Afikim, Israel

Cost

$18,500

*$500 Tzofim Discount Available

Participants

65

*10% from international participants

Language

English

6 months English + 4 months Hebrew

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Key Parts of the Program

Faced with endless opportunities to better yourself and others, the participant learns to value leadership. Through group problems, new experiences, and constant responsibility, the Mechina achieves this.
Learning new ideas and skills through the variety of trips, presenters, and seminars in the mechina, including lectures made by fellow participants.
Creating meaningful experiences by volunteering in different places inside the kibbutz and outside; learning kindness, how to help others and create a better future for people all around Israel.
To know the land itself, the rich history that it has experienced and to give back to the land that the Mechina calls home.
Through many aspects such as Judaism, Leadership, personal values, and day to day experiences, exploring your own identity is a natural process of the Mechina, but is also emphasized.
Forging a stable alliance with the kibbutz the Mechina is situated in, and to further share the experience of a kibbutz life, with all of it’s communal values and togetherness.

The Program

Testimonials

Ben Peled
Even Yehuda, Israel

The Machina unites many people, each of them more intelligent, talented and creative than the other. It creates the perfect environment for young, gifted individuals to learn the principles of social responsibility, and to strive for the making of an ideal group, intended to effect our communities for the better.

Lior Sabag
Karmei Yosef, Israel

For the last few months I’ve been apart of the Upper Galilee Leadership Academy and it is one of the best decisions I could have made for myself. It gives me the opportunity to do meaningful things as a citizen. The mechina allows me to to improve myself in every possible way, and be a better person for those around me.

Noam Lange
Bushey, England

The mechina has taught me the power of being proactive and achieving big dreams through small tasks. Using organization and determination, taking on more roles and responsibilities allows you to flourish in the intensity of the day-to-day life here. The more work you put in, the more you gain from it.

Noam Haifetz
Oranit , Israel

The mechina has taught me a lot and helped me develop into a better and improved version of myself. I met there so many good people and had so many good experiences with them that I will forever remember.

Romi Miller
Netanya, Israel

So far the Mechina has taught me how to overcome difficulties and grow from them by dealing with them myself. It is a marvelous experience that any young motivated person wanting to become the greater and best version of oneself should have an opportunity to go through.

About Galil Elyon

Whole mechina taking a picture outdoors.

The Upper Galilee Leadership Academy (Mechinat Galil Elyon) was founded in 1998 with the spirit of democracy and pioneering and the mission of shaping identity and cultivating young leaders with values. Who are able to influence and are committed to the Jewish people and the Israeli society. The Academy enforces taking responsibility and leading while being caring and sensitive to one's surroundings for a better future.

Galil Elyon fosters a strong connection to Israeli, Jewish, and Zionist heritage. Our leaders search for the greater impact that they can have within the Israeli society.

The Mechina has 5 groups throughout the Galilee (including a six-month program for youth from all over the world). There are a total of 300 participants a year and over 2,500 alumni.