In partnership with Edmund de Rothschild
Leadership is not only an innate trait, it is also the result of environmental investment on the part of organizations that believe in a vision of leadership development and are willing to invest time, knowledge and resources to locate aspiring young men and women who will lead the desired change.
One such program, which is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, is the "starting line" from the Edmond de Rothschild Partnerships.
Among the participants: Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze, religious and secular, girls and boys, city residents and villagers sitting around one table and one vision: to create an Israeli society in which everyone has an equal chance of influence.
"We locate, sort and train young and young people from the periphery who have high leadership potential, and accompany them to significant positions of influence, believing that when they are in these positions they will work to reduce social disparities, out of responsibility for society as a whole and not just their community or tribe," says Lena. Romanovsky, who is the clearest proof of the program's success, as an adult.
Romanowski recounts the program's crucial impact on her life: "My adolescence was parks and guitars, I did not go to school, and mostly did not dare to dream. My participation in the 'Startup' program changed the course of my life. "The space that allowed me to form an ambitious future picture, to learn about my abilities, and to realize them in reality. It can be said that much of who I am today is due to the program, which today I have the right to head."
The program has hundreds of graduates who are in positions of influence in government ministries, local authorities, business companies, entrepreneurship and civil society.
For 20 years, the program's participants and graduates have been making significant changes in Israeli society.
Hundreds of graduates reach positions of influence in the public and civil sector // Photo: Dudi Elimelech,
For example, Bar, a graduate of the program, is one of the founders of Am and Eretz for the advancement of young settlements in the Negev and the Galilee, and now also its CEO. In a big way, to sharpen my abilities, to experience various challenges and to meet people that I would not meet in any other framework. "
According to him, the main thing he took from the program is the understanding that he should take responsibility and not wait for someone to solve the problems for him.
"I learned not to be a victim of reality, but to create it, for myself and for everyone around me."
Today, he is involved in promoting and strengthening settlement in the Negev and the Galilee, in order to reduce the gap, and so that employment, community life and a good quality of life will be accessible everywhere in the country.
Lena Romanovsky, director of the "Startup Line" program // Photo: Natalie Weizmann Levy, Tully Studio,
Another example is Tamar from Saudi Arabia, originally from the Bedouin village of Segev Shalom: "The starting line met me at every significant crossroads in my life and led me to where I am today. Using all the tools I acquired in the program in light of the last decade, and I see myself in the future taking part in political-diplomatic centers of influence in Israeli society. "
The program operates in five geographical areas: Galil Golan;
The Western Galilee;
Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area;
The Eastern Negev and Jerusalem.
During the year, program participants go on field trips, where they learn to face challenges, identify their own inhibiting patterns and work in partnership with diverse young people.
Anat Nehemiah-Lavie, CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Partnerships: "The hundreds of graduates of the 'starting line', whose positive impact is evident wherever they go, are proof that our model of long-term leadership programs that work in diverse groups - works.
The 'starting line' is much more than the exploitation of personal abilities or social enterprises - it is a worldview, which stems from a deep awareness and commitment to the community, which brings participants and adults to work to reduce gaps and positively influence Israeli society, creativity and partnership.
We are proud of that. "
In partnership with Edmund de Rothschild
