Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

Last week, the Washington Post reported that President Obama intents to significantly increase the budget of AmeriCorps volunteering program. This move is mostly aimed at encouraging young Americans to contribute to their community against the background of the ongoing economic crisis.

This initiative is a good example of how the state can mobilize its civilians to create more solidarity and resilience in a society during difficult times.

Reut’s Home Front team is currently dealing with the issue of Israel’s civilian network in the context of emergencies. Our team found that emergency preparedness manifests itself on two levels: the individual ability to bounce back from crises, and the ability to contribute to the community during times of crises, a response that indirectly empowers the individual.

The act of volunteering combines these two levels and thus constitutes an important vehicle for promoting the building of communal resilience.