Thinking Doing

ICL is committed to being a catalyst for the promotion of social-environmental processes and community resilience in Israel and in the Negev in particular, by driving profound processes of social empowerment and proactive citizenship. ICL’s primary mission, as a key player in leading change in the quality of life of communities in the Negev, is to motivate collaborative processes in the establishment of a network of sustainable communities that create and drive regional processes, through partnerships and empowerment of local initiatives. The aspiration to ensure community resilience in the Negev region by strengthening its environment, economy and society has resulted in the “Thinking Doing” program – a project initiated by ICL in collaboration with local and regional councils in the Negev. \

This is the Company’s social flagship project, which serves as a platform for realizing ICL’s corporate responsibility

The Thinking Doing Project – Active Communities Lead Quality of Life

The program, an ICL initiative, has been active since 2014 as part of a strategic process to promote partners and partnerships in the Negev. The program supports social and environmental processes, creates social empowerment and strengthens local identity by creating a regional network of local entrepreneurs, who have both the ability and desire to contribute to the local community, as well as to the entire Negev region.

The program promotes close cooperation with municipal authorities and allows for the pooling of resources to improve the physical and social conditions made available to residents. Thinking Doing enables ICL to be a significant partner in the establishment of the Negev’s environmental, economic and social resilience.

Principles of the Program

The program provides professional and economic support to different initiatives in the Negev region and generates long term change.
The program enables Negev residents to realize their dreams regarding the environment, the economy and society, while supporting initiatives that realize dreams that are relevant to everyday life and are based on the needs of the community.
As part of the program, local residents choose areas in which they wish to act, such as education and community, improving public spaces and creating community infrastructure, strengthening the local economy, tackling environmental issues and so forth. The local entrepreneurs partner with additional local residents on their initiative, in order to make a notable social impact.
During the process, a meaningful community effort takes place, with multiple local organizations cooperating.
ICL incorporates, on top of the professional and economic support, hours of employees who volunteer in these various community projects.

Method of Operation

ICL, as an influential and major factor in Negev communities, acts as a catalyst to drive processes that establish the joint effort of business, environment and the community organizations to strengthen the Negev’s resilience, and aids in building a social, environmental and professional network as part of its community activities. Various projects and initiatives are supported within this framework, including long-term projects that promote change by pooling resources for greater empowerment and creativity in the community space.

The Thinking Doing Project enables individuals and the community to use and initiate practical tools in order to realize local visions related to the environment and society. This allows the formation of community and environmental initiatives in the various Negev communities, with the purpose of building an independent and active community that promotes both environment and society. Throughout the development process of a project within the “Thinking Doing” program, local residents select areas in which they wish to focus their activities, such as education and community, the local economy and environmental resources. A community representative is appointed to lead the project in each initiative or type of activity.

This is a significant community program, initiated and supported by ICL, with the active cooperation of numerous local organizations. ICL contributes both funds and volunteer time of its employees to the various community projects.

The Operational Model

In-depth mapping of the community and the local municipality’s needs, study and introduction meetings with community opinion leaders.
Structuring a process vis-à-vis the municipality in full coordination with officeholders and civic sector organizations operating in the area.
Establishment or counseling of a professional leading team in the community
Composition of a call for communities – to drive processes, and publication of such process
Counseling and leading the community initiatives
Supporting the creation of a professional infrastructure of entrepreneurs and officeholders
Promoting new calls for proposals every year; each call for proposals is reconsidered according to the development of ongoing Thinking Doing projects and the community’s needs
Linking ICL volunteers to initiative operations on the ground
Proposals are concentrated onto anchor institutions and community-building processes in the communities
Thinking Doing leader forum convenes for peer learning, familiarization with ICL’s objectives and creation of regional collaboration
Creating young leadership, through scholarships for students, who serve as a significant human resource in Thinking Doing projects

Thinking Doing Project in Yeruham

The program began as a pilot project in the town of Yeruham, and has been in operation there since 2014. As a result of the program, a regional network of local entrepreneurs was created, with the ability and the desire to contribute to the local community and to the entire Negev region. Together with Yeruham residents and the town’s local leadership, and by connecting with the town’s agenda and the mayor’s vision for sustainability, the program supports social and environmental initiatives of local residents, thereby aiding in rebranding Yeruham as a sustainability-fostering town.

As part of the Thinking Doing program’s great success as a game-changer in the community, a local coordinator was appointed on behalf of ICL and the Local Council – a town sustainability coordinator, who is responsible for leading sustainability issues in Yeruham. The Yeruham community center now operates a town sustainability department, with 4 people leading the town’s sustainability efforts. In Yeruham, sustainability and Thinking Doing projects have since become part of the town’s DNA.

The connections and partnerships between various organizations in Yeruham, the empowerment of social entrepreneurs and the motivating of partnership processes, have promoted the establishment of significant institutions in the community and the driving of community-building and space-altering processes. These changes and significant activities are apparent on the ground. Yeruham saw the establishment of significant anchor institutions and unique collaborations, leading to meaningful social activity. This activity places Yeruham at the forefront of social action and as an international model for community change and growth. This model of activity was the first of its kind in the Negev and serves as inspiration for additional municipal authorities in the Negev, who have since been joining the Thinking Doing program.

Successful projects in Yeruham include, among others:

Construction of a network of community gardens and community meeting places, including community libraries;
The Shade Trees project – establishing a model whereby the town’s statutory planning now includes adding and maintaining shade trees in public areas;
“Improve the World” (Tikkun Olam) community crafting workshops – a local project that evolved into a regional network of active workshops (Ramat Negev Regional Council, Mitzpe Ramon, and soon Dimona and Tamar Regional Council). the project now includes a crafting program in the municipal education system and community activity courses, reintroducing knowledge of traditional crafts to children, teenagers and adults;
The Wagon project – a project promoting woodworking and design next to one’s home – following the operation of the first “wagon” in Yeruham, the project was expanded also to the Ramat Negev Regional Council and Mitzpe Ramon, to be followed soon by a project-operated wagon in Dimona, Tamar Regional Council and Beer Sheva. The Yeruham wagon arrives at the town’s neighborhoods and takes an active part in driving community neighborhood renewal operations and development of community gardens.
Community clinic offering subsidized alternative medicine;
Yeruham Mosaic – a project showcasing the legacy and heritage of Yeruham neighborhoods
Training courses in design and repairs, aimed at personal development of participants and further impact on public spaces.
Collaborations with the Young at Yeruham association, for the empowerment and training of local students.
Kesem Project – counseling to residents on initiatives to improve cleanliness in town.

Thinking Doing Ramat Negev

The Thinking Doing program has been in operation in the Ramat Negev Regional Council for three years. All communities in the Council’s jurisdiction benefited from a budget allocated for improving the community’s outdoor appearance, according to initiatives proposed by local residents. The 2020 call for proposals has already been adapted to the COVID-19 reality, with an emphasis on outdoor community meeting places. Four projects have already been launched, and project leaders will take part in a local forum that will form a council-wide concept of the outdoor space model adapted to the needs of Council communities and the requirements posed by the current situation.

A workshop and a wagon have been launched in Ramat Negev. Workshop operation is broad and comprehensive. Teenagers from all communities undergo training at the workshop and set on reality-changing projects in the communities. Under the workshop’s guidance, sitting areas and trash can sheds were constructed and communal areas, petting zoos and community gardens were refurbished and upgraded in the various communities. During the summer of 2020 the workshop will function as a workplace for teenagers requiring income. Items made at the workshop will be sold and the proceeds will be transferred to the teenagers as their summer jobs’ wages.

Thinking Doing Mitzpe Ramon, Dimona, Tamar Regional Council, Kseifa

In 2019, the Thinking Doing program expanded into the above additional municipalities. A profound process of mapping has been carried out, and a local leading team was appointed. A call for proposals has been issued and projects selected. Work at the new Thinking Doing partner municipalities is progressing, and local initiatives are taking shape and forming into meaningful community activities.

Thinking Doing Beer Sheva

The city of Beer Sheva and the community department of Kivunim (the municipal culture and education corporation) have chosen Neighborhood B to serve as the pilot setting for Thinking Doing in the city. The Mayor and City Director General personally monitor the project. The project has concluded a year of meaningful activity, with dozens of community entrepreneurs residing in Neighborhood B, both young and elderly, now looking forward to expand activity into other neighborhoods. Examples of initiatives – establishment of community music stands surrounding the new Writers’ Park, placemaking activity was planned for the park house, expansion of the “jack of all trades” project, construction of green corners and infrastructure for varied community activities at commercial centers. In addition, foundation and launch of the “Council House Features”, documenting life in Beer Sheva’s public housing and connecting the film industry to neighborhoods.

The “Negev Communities Leading Change” Conference

The Thinking Doing program was the basis for an annual tradition of holding a travelling community conference, allowing a glimpse of the creative and community richness of Negev communities.

The conference, which manifests multi-sectorial partnership, began in Yeruham in 2018, as part of the long-term partnership with the town. The 2019 conference was held in the Ramat Negev Regional Council.