Tallwood High School students share their impressions on Israel

by | Mar 21, 2014 | Other News

Back row: Andrew Clark, Gregory Falls, Kathleen Laroue (teacher), Halina Gregg, and Bria Reel; Front row: Kaitlyn Gallagher, Marialle Balingit, Franchesca Virtucio, Isela Vazquez, and Zoe Hollander. Photo by Robin Mancoll.

Back row: Andrew Clark, Gregory Falls, Kathleen Laroue (teacher), Halina Gregg, and Bria Reel; Front row: Kaitlyn Gallagher, Marialle Balingit, Franchesca Virtucio, Isela Vazquez, and Zoe Hollander. Photo by Robin Mancoll.

Student Youth Ambassadors enrolled in the Global Studies & World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School who participated in an exchange program organized by the America Israel Friendship League, shared stories of their experiences on Thursday, March 6 at the Sandler Family Campus. Almost 50 people heard from the students and left feeling great about the future of Israel with young ambassadors such as these.

The America Israel Friendship League was established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1979 and is now a highly successful international exchange that encourages inter-cultural understanding and communication. The Virginia Beach Public School system is one of only five in the nation that participates in the program. Students and teachers who are past participants say it changed their lives and their perception and appreciation of Israel.

Those who attended the event presented by the Community Relations Council of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater can attest that the program did, indeed, accomplish what it set out to do.

The month-long exchange began Oct. 24 when 10 students from Israel arrived in Virginia Beach to live with host families. They attended school at Tallwood, visited local sites of interest, and generally learned about life in Tidewater. After a week spent here, the Youth Ambassadors from both countries joined other American and Israeli Youth Ambassadors from across the nation in Washington, D.C. and New York. Beach students then headed to Israel for a week in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Finally, they stayed with host families in other parts of Israel to experience the local customs and hospitality in the same spirit offered to the Israeli Youth Ambassadors in Virginia Beach.

To learn how to support this Virginia Beach City Public School program, contact Robin Mancoll, CRC director at RMancoll@ujft.org.