Afula, Israel—A group of students from the AMIT Yehuda Jr. and Sr. High School in Afula received the “President’s Award for Volunteerism” in a special and moving ceremony held at the President’s residence last week in Jerusalem.

A program called Maagalim has been operating at the school for many years. The purpose of the program is to help students deepen their awareness of their Jewish identity, take responsibility for themselves and those around them and understand the importance of significant service in the state of Israel, while developing their ability to take initiative and fill leadership roles in the community.

Through Maagalim, the 11th-grade students organized many successful chesed projects over the last three years, including restoring the grave of Rabbi Nachum Levin (the first Rabbi of Afula, who died about 80 years ago), creating a festive and exciting bar mitzvah event for four children who live in a children’s home and renovating the home of a disadvantaged family. For each project, the students raised tens of thousands of shekels, recruited volunteer professionals to help out, and put in a lot of their own hard work. The results were amazing successes.

The President’s Award for Volunteerism was presented by President Reuven Rivlin and the former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who currently serves as chairman of the President’s Award for Volunteerism Committee. It was received by two student representatives, Meir Elimelech and Yoad David. To learn more visit www.amitchildren.org.