Shatil, The New Israel Fund’s Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change Organizations in Israel, was established in 1982 to strengthen civil society efforts and promote democracy, tolerance, and social justice in Israel. Each year, Shatil provides close to 1,400 nonprofit organizations with consulting, training, coalition-building assistance and other services. In addition, Shatil reaches out to disadvantaged populations – like new immigrants, Arab Israelis and residents of development towns – to help them realize their rights and play an active role in determining the policies that affect their lives.

Shatil has five regional offices in Jerusalem, Haifa, Baqa Algharbiya, Rosh Pina and Beer Sheva.

 

 

Jerusalem

Shatil opened its first office in Jerusalem in 1982 with just two staff people. Today, 52 staff members work out of the Jerusalem office which is the central hub of Shatil’s activities. Shatil projects run from our Jerusalem offices include Environmental Justice, Social and Economic Justice, Women’s Employment, National Budget Reform, Assistance to Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, Back from the Edge and the Everett Social Justice Interns project, as well as our trainings program. In addition, the Jerusalem office houses our Center for Policy Change and our Conflict Transformation and Management Center. Shatil’s main Resource Development Library is located here as well as our resource development consulting and lobby and media consulting departments. NIF/Shatil director Rachel Liel and Associate Director Carlos Sztyglic work out of our main office and the New Israel Fund in Israel is centrally located in the same building as well.

 

Haifa

Shatil Haifa is a microcosm of civil society in Israel, bringing together Jews and Arabs, veteran Israelis and new immigrants from the FSU and Ethiopia in a hub of activity, strengthening existing organizations and proactively initiating social enterprises, some of which have grown into highly successful independent associations. Every year, hundreds of organizational representatives come to the Haifa offices for private consulting, trainings and courses. Under the leadership of Fathi Marshood, the director of the Haifa office and a senior organizational consultant, Shatil Haifa is as an incubator for social change initiatives. Shatil’s experienced consultants have provided a significant contribution to the rise of a vibrant, effective local civil society in Haifa and the North. Some of Shatil’s most essential work is led from the Haifa office, including our Outreach to Immigrants from Ethiopia Program, the Arab Citizens Initiative and the Financial Management Consulting unit.

 

Beer Sheva

As a capacity building organization and proactive social change agent, Shatil has had a presence in the Negev for more 15 years and provides as many as 100 regional organizations with capacity building training annually. A few examples of organizations who use the organizational space are HaLev: The Movement for Life and Dignity; the Association for Civil Rights in Israel: Bedouin Sector, Northern Negev Organization, several Ethiopian immigrants organization, Al-Avshla which is a Bedouin environmental justice organization and Fruits of Peace, an organization focused on joint Arab-Jewish living. Shatil’s offices in Beer Sheva are representative of the people of the Negev, including a multicultural staff of Arabs and Jews, veteran Israelis and immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and Ethiopia.  The office is jointly managed by Sultan Abu Obaid and Yarona Ben-Shalom.   Joint Jewish-Arab directorship brings much added-value to Shatil in every aspect of organizational functioning: facilitation of staff meetings, program planning, recruitment of collaborative partners and human resource management.

Baqa Algharbiya

Shatil launched its Triangle programme in order to strengthen the local Arab civil society in the Triangle region, recognizing the dire socio-economic and political challenges the local population is facing. Since its establishment, the Shatil office in Baka has become a resource for local organizations to hold meetings, network with other organizations, collaborate and make use of necessary support facilities and resources. The office conducts a range of training programs and provides consulting and capacity-building services for organizational and community representatives, providing them with the skills and knowledge to effectively leverage their initiatives in the region. In addition, Shatil initiates projects and partners with local organizations and agents of change to carry proactive projects addressing pressing local needs.

Rosh Pina

Established in 2007, Shatil B’Galil has fast become a well-known and highly reputed bastion of civil society in the North. Providing capacity building consultation to more than 30 local groups and organizations, the office’s consultants and community organizers, who are residents of the Galilee, are familiar with virtually every facet of civil society in the region – from individual activists and fledgling volunteer groups to more established organizations and institutions. Shatil B’Galil implements innovative training courses that equip local activists with knowledge and skills to devise and implement work-plans, engage in advocacy vis-à-vis local authorities, understand municipal budgetary processes and much more. The office is heavily invested in promoting cooperation with and among the region’s local authorities and public institutions – all with the aim of bettering local residents’ quality of life and ensuring access to vital public services.

Shatil’s main issue areas are:

• Social and economic justice
• Civil and human rights
• Jewish-Palestinian equality and coexistence
• Status of women
• Environmental justice
• Religious freedom