Gal Danoch is studying an accelerated BA-MA program, earning a bachelor’s degree in geography and Middle Eastern studies and a master’s degree in urban planning. Currently in the last year of his undergraduate studies, Gal is generously supported by the Israel Scholarship Education Foundation (ISEF). “Neither of my parents had a college education,” Gal says. “A friend told me about the ISEF program, and I applied.”
“My parents always wanted me and my siblings to get an education, and thanks to ISEF, this is possible. I’m fortunate and thankful to have been chosen for the scholarship.”
Gal grew up in Ashkelon and had been active in Hashomer Hatzair, an Israeli youth movement. He continued down the path of informal education during his gap year, his miliary service, and beyond, when he moved to Jerusalem and trained as a tour guide, earning a license to lead school outings.
ISEF scholarship recipients are required to volunteer, and thus it was no surprise that Gal chose to mentor two high school students through the Bridge to Academia program. The following year, Gal became the program’s coordinator. “For the first time, I had a system-wide perspective. I had to deal with a lot of bureaucracy, but I gained confidence and learned to recognize my abilities.”
Bridges to Academia holds an annual, program-wide volunteer day, but Gal decided to take a less centralized and more empowering approach. Working in small groups, mentors and mentees chose and coordinated their own volunteer projects. “I offered guidance, but the success is truly theirs. One group volunteered with the homeless, another group went to a senior’s home. Each group picked something relevant to them.”
In addition to his ISEF responsibilities, Gal impacts Jerusalem in other ways. Last summer he volunteered to teach a 12-part Hebrew language course that a friend organized at the Shuafat community center in East Jerusalem. “The Hebrew course expanded the students’ personal and social viewpoints, by meeting the ‘other,’” he reflects. “It also opened their eyes – and my eyes – to the importance of Hebrew in obtaining higher education and quality employment.”