The Center for a Shared Society at Givat Haviva

The Center for a Shared Society at Givat Haviva aims to build an inclusive, socially cohesive society in Israel by engaging divided communities in collective action towards the advancement of a sustainable, thriving Israeli democracy based on mutual responsibility, civic equality and a shared vision of the future.

Givat Haviva is a non-profit organization founded in 1949 as the national education center of the Kibbutz Federation in Israel. It is dedicated to promoting mutual responsibility, civic equality and cooperation between divided groups in Israel as the foundation for building a shared future and shared society – critical elements of a sustainable and thriving Israeli democracy. To this end, Givat Haviva serves as a catalyst in activating divided communities to work together towards achieving their common goals, while engaging in a process of interaction, support and empowerment. This is done through facilitating cross-community projects; leading training and capacity building activities; convening seminars, workshops and conferences to cultivate concrete ideas that foster change; and translating these ideas into action. A leader in its field, Givat Haviva was awarded the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education in 2001 for its longstanding work in promoting Jewish-Arab dialogue and reconciliation.

The New York City-based American arm, representing and supporting the Center for a Shared Society at Givat Haviva in Israel, is The Givat Haviva Educational Foundation (GHEF). The Foundation is comprised of a community of supporters and activists who work to increase awareness of Givat Haviva’s mission to create a shared future and shared society in Israel, based on the principles of equality, cooperation, empowerment, and understanding.

Learn more about Givat Haviva and how you can support its programs here.