Ayalim Village: Attracting students to Sderot with a 7 million investment

• Published date: 17 April 2024
• Author: OFER PETERSBURG
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Established a decade ago, the Ayalim Association's student village was a bustling hub for 256 male and female students. On Oct. 7, during Simchat Torah celebrations, students found themselves trapped in their apartments amid incessant gunshots

On Oct. 8, the association evacuated village members to Dead Sea hotels, running educational programs for Sderot's children and youth. During the "Iron Swords" war, the village sustained a direct hit, severely damaging local infrastructure and rendering dozens of apartments uninhabitable.

In response, and with Sderot's return to normalcy, the Ayalim Association opted to revamp all fatally damaged village infrastructures and renovate directly impacted apartments. This initiative aims to create an attractive student complex meeting their needs.

As part of the initiative, a community garden was established in the village, featuring "parklets" with both mobile and static sitting areas, shared outdoor work tables, and variable seating benches. Additionally, a new bar and café will be constructed at the village's center, providing students with spacious and pleasant workspaces.

Furthermore, the association, in collaboration with KKL-JNF and the Sderot Municipality, devised a strategic plan to entice students back to the city's village. This plan includes offering subsidized rent during degree studies through a scholarship program, contingent upon significant community contributions in Sderot and its environs.

Moreover, as outlined in the plan, Ayalim's student village in Sderot is poised to become an appealing focal point for young residents. This transformation will occur through the establishment of a network of cultural courtyards, in partnership with the Sderot Municipality, culminating in an urban cultural center at the heart of the village, seamlessly integrating local businesses.

"Until October 7, our village in Sderot was a living and vibrant center for students who chose to live and work in the city," according to Sigal Barzilai, CEO of the Ayalim Association.

"The move that Ayalim is now leading here together with the municipality of Sderot and KKL-JNF is another significant step on the way to...