As such, individual initiative is crucial as is an ability to function within a group. Participants establish contacts with the staff and residents living in communities, youth villages, and absorption centers and via the Israeli adoptive families that participants receive upon arrival to Israel. The program cost includes medical insurance and all aspects of the program including seminars, hikes, ulpan, etc. The program is a group oriented program that is divided into four tracks, each designed to expose participants to different elements in Israeli society. Group size varies depending on which track you are on.
All tracks are simultaneous for all participants.
The first track consists of work and study in immigration absorption centers. During this three month period, participants work in the absorption center doing a range of activities - some of which may include preparing apartments for new immigrants, helping the new immigrants adjust to their new society, tutoring english, running evening activities, or other volunteer work within the surrounding community. When not working, participants study Hebrew in an ulpan. In the second track, participants spend 3 months living and working in an Israeli neighborhood or region, which in most cases has strong ties to the participant's community in North America. Otzmanikim are integrated into the neighborhood and work to enhance community life.