Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen: “The ‘Switch’ program is an important program for our youth, the future generation of the State of Israel. The demand for green and clean energy in the world is growing, and the program will help young people contribute to diversifying Israel‘s energy sources, today and in the future.”
The program, which will be implemented in dozens of local authorities across the country with an emphasis on peripheral authorities, is based on experiential learning, community action, and social entrepreneurship. Within its framework, young people will be exposed to the worlds of energy efficiency and savings, renewable energy, storage, and clean transportation, and will translate the knowledge they acquire into practical action on the ground – within the community in which they live.
Within this framework, in each local authority that joins, a youth group of 25-35 students from grades 8-10 will be established. They will undergo an in-depth educational process including a series of meetings, professional guidance, and the development of a community initiative with local impact. Each group will identify an environmental or energy challenge in its immediate surroundings and develop a practical solution – from public awareness and education to innovative field initiatives.
The culmination of the process will be a national concluding conference at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, where representatives from the groups from all authorities will present the initiatives they developed. During the conference, there will also be an initiative competition, and outstanding initiatives will be recognized based on criteria of social impact, originality, and innovation.
Local authorities selected for the program will receive full support from the Ministry through a professional supplier appointed by it, who will operate the training, train dedicated instructors, and connect young people with professionals and policymakers at the local and national level.
Local authorities interested in joining the program are invited to submit their candidacy within the framework of the call for proposals published by the Ministry.