Youth Education
Our work with the Jewish community is multi-dimensional. We provide the Jewish community with various touch points for social justice throughout their lives. Our education programs begin with our ‘Step Up’ B’nei Mitzvah program; a diverse social justice journey for 12-13 year olds.
This work is continued through our ongoing association with Jewish schools, synagogues and other organisations where we lend our educational and social justice expertise to their curriculum, running various social justice themed activities with high school students of all ages.
Topics are all grounded in Jewish values and connected to Tikkun Olam and we provide young Jewish people with a meaningful and fulfilling expression of their Judaism.
- In 2022, over 1500 young Jewish participants aged 12-18 engaged in our education programs
- At the end of our B’nei Mitzvah programs in 2022, 90% of participants said they felt confident to discuss social justice and global issues.
- “I have learnt I can change the world” - Rafi, Step Up participant 2022
Community Empowerment
We inspire the Jewish community to deepen their understanding and take action to address pressing social justice issues. Recently, we presented a forum with Behrouz Boochani, (former Manus Island refugee, advocate and author) to a sold-out audience and a Social Justice Summit delving into the issue of gender equality. Following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, we mobilised the Jewish community to collectively donate $40,000 via IsraAID. As the referendum on The Voice draws nearer we will be actively mobilising & training volunteers to campaign for the Jewish community to Vote Yes.
This tragedy we are talking about is not the past, it still continues
- Behrouz Boochani
PROJECT EDEN
2023 is going to be a big year as our new refugee program, Project Eden, gets off the ground. Supporting the work of Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, this pioneering program provides an opportunity for everyday Australians and our Jewish community to welcome new arrivals who have been identified by the United Nations as being in urgent need of resettlement.
Stand Up volunteers will work in groups to support the relocation and settlement of newly arrived refugees. Responsibilities will include meeting new arrivals at the airport, finding accommodation, assisting in registration for key support services (e.g. schools) and immersing them in the local community.
Stand Up is proud to support CRSA and their project that aims to tangibly and meaningfully change the lives of over 1500 refugees. Providing hope and real impact is what we do. I couldn’t be more excited about launching Project Eden.
– Dean Levitan, Chair of Stand Up
Derech Eretz
Stand Up has had an 18 year friendship with the First Nations communities of Toomelah and Boggabilla. Affectionately known as the 'Jewish Mob', we continue to provide impactful services to young people in the community as well as educating and inspiring young Jewish leaders to pursue First Nations justice.
Over 230 participants have done the program since its inception.
I just love the ‘Jewish Mob’ coming up to our communities. Just their smile and the relationship that we have with them... It’s a positive impact on everyone in our community
– Aunty Milly, Toomelah & Boggabilla Elder
Come Together
Come Together is Stand Up's Truth Telling program, that has become one of our pivotal programs.
Through open conversation, we bring First Nations voices, stories and histories into the Jewish community. This strengthens our allyship and moves us together towards self-determination and reconciliation.
In partnership with Children’s Ground, this is a unique program and the only one of its kind in the Jewish community.
I think truth-telling is the most important current step towards First Nations justice. Next steps will need to be action and changes, but before that this seems to be the way to get Australia on the right understanding of what happened in this country and where we’re at.
– Adam, Come Together participant, 2022