Gay youth group OK’d for volunteer program

Israel’s Education Ministry has decided to include the Israel Gay Youth Organization (IGY) as one of the approved groups in its mandatory volunteering program.

The ministry program aims to get high school students involved in their local communities by assisting social groups. Participation in the program is a requirement for graduation.

Students can volunteer with Magen David Adom emergency services or the Israel fire and rescue services, tutor other students, help in shelters, or work with animal rights groups or youth groups.

IGY is a recognized youth group and as such was eligible to be included in the program.

A formal motion to that effect was filed with the ministry after a shooting attack on a gay youth center in Tel Aviv last year claimed the lives of two teenagers.

“After the attack, our youth began taking more of a stand. We saw more and more teens come out, and many more that asked to volunteer with us. … Now they can finally get school credit for that,” Noa Raz, head of IGY’s resource development, told Ynetnews.

Hana Schwartz of the Education Ministry told Ynet that IGY “underwent the same procedure all youth groups must undergo before they are included in the program.” — ynetnews.com