Future Leadership Program Jerusalem

The aim is to strengthen the fellows' personal and professional development, encourage cross-organisational thinking, and increase their impact in local communities. The first group of eleven fellows, chosen from 85 eligible applicants, reflects the diversity of Jerusalem in terms of their origins, religious affiliations, and demographic backgrounds. Members of the group include: Fadi Dekaidek, a paramedic with 14 years' experience who established a pioneering programme to integrate young people from East Jerusalem by employing them in the Magen David Adom emergency medical service; Daniella Seltzer is the co-founder of the Jerusalem Food Rescuers initiative and is committed to creating a fair and sustainable urban food system. Dr Mishy Harman is the founder of the successful podcast Israel Story and the Jerusalem Story event series. She uses the power of storytelling to showcase identity, diversity and humanity in Jerusalem to a global audience and to build bridges between different population groups. Daud Alyan runs a comprehensive support and counselling programme for thousands of East Jerusalem residents, making a decisive contribution to improving the social and economic situation of many population groups in the city.

This programme is a ten-year strategic project for civil society leadership in Jerusalem, aiming to overcome social division and promote trust-based cooperation between population groups in the city.

The annual programme combines personal development with strategic leadership knowledge and practical learning. Key topics include: dealing with tension and complexity in Jerusalem's social and political arena, systemic thinking and cross-group cooperation, conflict transformation and cultural sensitivity, building strong organisations under challenging conditions, storytelling, impact communication and personal presence, as well as excursions to different neighbourhoods and communities.

The Finkelstein Foundation will support the Jerusalem Foundation's project for the next three years. The Jerusalem Foundation is a globally active, independent, non-partisan, non-profit organisation based in Jerusalem that works on behalf of all population groups in Jerusalem. Founded in 1966 by the well-known mayor Teddy Kollek, the foundation has been building bridges of goodwill ever since. Over 4,000 projects have been realised to date. The foundation helps all population groups in Jerusalem, regardless of religion, origin and age.