"Poland and Ukraine are two of the historic centers of Jewish life," said Linda Levi, JDC Assistant Executive Vice President. "As the Jews in these countries rebuild what was lost in the Holocaust and destroyed by years of communist rule, we want our young leaders to appreciate the fact that we have a role to play in helping revive the rich intellectual, spiritual and communal life in these Jewish communities. These trips will give our students valuable exposure to all that needs to be done."

The University of Florida group---10 students---will visit Poland from August 2-17, where they will join a group of Israeli and Polish peers to restore a neglected Jewish cemetery in the town of Ziebice. The students will also see historic sites, meet with community and student leaders and grapple with Jewish identity issues facing communities in Poland, the United States and Israel. This unique opportunity is a partnership between JDC, the Polish Union of Jewish Students, the World Union of Jewish Students, and University of Florida Hillel, and receives funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and the Sarasota Manatee Jewish Federation.

From August 22-31, 15 students from the University of Michigan will travel to Kharkov and Konotop, Ukraine, where they will join their peers from Kharkov Hillel to paint apartments of Jewish families in need and refurbish Jewish community facilities. They will also meet with community leaders and local youth to discuss the challenges facing Ukrainian Jewry and the JDC's role in addressing those issues. This project is a partnership between JDC, University of Michigan Hillel, and Kharkov Hillel, and is financially supported by grants from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Foundation.

"We are excited to be a part of this opportunity for young Jews to volunteer alongside their peers in Ukraine as they revitalize the community and ultimately become advocates for global Jewish solidarity," said Lynn Schusterman, President of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. "These students are joining together to demonstrate their commitment to a strong Jewish future.

"Some people say service to others is the rent we pay for space on this planet. I think service to others is the down payment we make to assure a safe, secure home on earth for our children and grandchildren."

These trips are part of a program JDC has developed in coordination with International Hillel to offer short-term volunteer experiences to groups of university students during their school breaks. The purpose is to engage the students and empower them to take on leadership roles in advocating for global Jewish solidarity.

Earlier this year, JDC sent a group from Hillels at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston and Texas A&M University to Argentina on a similar volunteer experience. Upon their return, the students planned a speaking tour and a fundraising campaign for JDC's Baby Help program in Argentina. The groups from the Universities of Michigan and Florida are expected to develop their own advocacy programs when they return to campus.