Their international development program emphasizes social justice and change across borders as a way to galvanize the energies of youth. They operate in 32 communities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Israel.
We started with a group of 40 teens from Haifa, Israel joining their compatriots at a JCC community center in Newton, Massachusetts.
Striking in the conversations was a universal drive for peace, decency, community, civility, kindness and fellowship.
That said, kids and teens from different cultures and geographies bring variegated philosophies, experiences, and ways of delivering value.
So far for us and the young leaders in the room, a lot of the work is to listen, appreciate, and understand each other—before we seek common vision and deliver leadership capacities at a high level.
Where there is social injustice, the aspiring teen leaders you see in these photos are active. Some come by it naturally. Others are energized by the Diller program. They bring practical solutions in their Diller work, and now a Hope leadership framework and a set of skills for resolving conflict.
These photos represent new friends for the Hope program—and the energy and vision of youth.
We hope you enjoy them.