Tikkun olam (literally, "repairing the world," and practically, "engaging in social action") is one of the core tenets of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. At the Village, we decided to undertake tikkun olam as a central project because of the strong contribution it offers to the youth of Agahozo-Shalom themselves, as well as to the surrounding communities.
In order to ensure the success of Agahozo-Shalom's tikkun olam program, we engaged in a nine-month preparatory process to foster a deep understanding of the importance of tikkun olam among all staff of Agahozo-Shalom and all those living in the surrounding villages. Our strategy for tikkun olam at Agahozo-Shalom involves a four year process of gradually expanding the youth's “area of service." During their first year at Agahozo-Shalom, children focus on tikkun halev, or "repairing the heart." During this time they work on building their own sense of self, identity, and confidence. During the second year, students begin to do tikkun olam in the nearby village of Rubona, where they work with school children, in the local clinic, and help local residents with basic needs. In their third year, students will begin to venture out to the larger area of the district, and finally, in their fourth year at Agahozo-Shalom, the youth will engage in tikkun olam throughout the country of Rwanda. To enable comprehensive management of the tikkun olam project, there is both a tikkun olam club (youth) who makes short-term decisions related to tikkun olam, and a tikkun olam committee (staff) who makes long-term, strategic decisions related to tikkun olam.
We have received a great deal of positive feedback from citizens of Rubona who benefit from our tikkun olam program. The youth have truly internalized the concept of tikkun olam, and are continually seeking to help others in whatever way possible. Our neighbors were touched by the youth of ASYV's spirit and desire to share their talents and skills. For example, the nurse at the local clinic was moved to tears upon seeing how much the teenagerswanted to help.
