National-Civil Service

National-Civil Service is a public service volunteer framework in various fields (that often lack manpower) such as – education, healthcare, social services, security, nature conservation, animals, and more.
Any citizen or permanent resident who is exempt from military service or has not been drafted is eligible for National-Civil Service.
This framework can be a parallel option to military service for some people on the trans spectrum for whom military service is unsuitable for various reasons.

Initial Acceptance Procedure to National-Civil Service

Any citizen or permanent resident who is exempt from military service or has not been drafted can volunteer for National-Civil Service. Volunteering for National-Civil Service is for at least one year and can be lengthened up to two years.
Those who complete National-Civil Service are eligible for benefits that discharged IDF soldiers receive (according to the duration of service).
The volunteer year typically begins on September 1st, though there are cases that may allow for a different starting date (signing up for service is possible all year).

Precursors to Service

The minimum volunteer age is 17. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to provide permission from a parent or guardian consenting to service.
The maximum volunteer age is 24 (meaning that the maximum age to begin volunteering is 23, in which case it is only possible to volunteer for one year), or 27 for those who were special education students.
Volunteers need to be citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel.
Volunteers need to have received exemption from mandatory military service (according to the Israeli Defense Service Law of 1986), or those who aren’t included in the mandatory draft according to that law.

Applying for Service

Independently

Fill out the online form for registration for national service/community volunteering on the government services and information website.
Fill out the form with personal details and details of the type of service you are interested in, and select the volunteer organization you wish to volunteer through (you may select more than one organization). There are volunteer organizations with more than one volunteering location.
After filling out the form and sending it, it is possible to update details or change the volunteer organization choice (you can update the form up to 5 times, via a form that is sent to the applicant by email. The original form should only be filled out once).
The form is sent to all organizations chosen by the applicant to check compatibility and placement in service.
The volunteer organization that the applicant chose to volunteer through will complete the rest of the recruitment and registration process.

Through Organizations

You can contact one of the recognized National-Civil Service volunteer organizations directly:
Israeli Volunteer Association – National Service, Ofek Association for Advancement of Young Volunteers in Israel, Bat Ami, Hibur Hadash Association, Shivyon Hevrati Association – National Service, Sherut Leumi Shilo Association, Aminadav, Shlomit – Shilat, and Haverim – Haredi Civil Service.
The Authority for National-Civil Service website can be used to find up-to-date information about service locations.
You can reach out to multiple volunteer organizations to hear about different options and programs they offer (the associations offer tailored programs for various populations according to their needs, for example, programs for people with disabilities, etc.).
It is recommended to look at the organizations’ websites to find out about the offered programs and open volunteer spots in your preferred field.
It is recommended to contact a coordinator in the volunteer organization (association) before starting service and throughout the duration of service to align expectations about the place and type of volunteer work – before service to find the optimal volunteer spot for you.

Volunteer Program for the Trans Community – Shlomit Association

Shlomit Association offers the opportunity to volunteer for National-Civil Service through the Nachshol Trans (Trans Wave) program – a program tailored to young adults on the trans spectrum. In this program, you are obligated to volunteer for 30 weekly hours, 5 days a week. The volunteers are integrated into all volunteer locations in various fields, such as healthcare, education, social services, government offices, animal care, and more. Note that some placements are only available to volunteers in special programs.
The program operates across the country and enables integration in volunteer positions under local coordinators.

As part of the program, volunteers receive personal guidance from a local coordinator, starting at the initial interview, to integration into the volunteer position, and through the end of service. The coordinator visits volunteers at their place of service once every two/three weeks and builds a personal advancement program with them according to their needs and abilities. The coordinator is the one to turn to regarding anything about the volunteer position/location, if issues arise.

Every three weeks there is a group workshop with other volunteers. In the workshop, volunteers gain skills to cope with the service and preparation for life as civilians after service, particularly regarding being on the trans spectrum.

Additionally, National Service volunteers in this program have the option of housing. Shlomit has housing for 8 volunteers in this program, after checking compatibility and based on available space. The apartment is located in Kfar Shalem in Tel Aviv bordering Ramat Gan on Ma’apilei Egoz St, and it is possible to stay there throughout the week (not including Friday and Saturday). Staying in the apartment requires a family home to return to.
Additionally, there are housing options with Alut Jerusalem and Kivunim in the north (if accepted there as a volunteer). For further details, reach out to the organization coordinators.

For volunteers who aren’t in this program, it is possible to receive housing in a non-gendered apartment, or a volunteer apartment with similar conditions (reach out to your coordinator). It is important to note: If housing conditions are unsuitable, volunteers can send a complaint to the volunteer organization, who are obligated to investigate the complaint and reply promptly in writing. For further reading: Housing Accommodated to People on the Trans Spectrum