A Tradition of Innovation

AJEEC = I come to you

Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment, and Cooperation
Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Economic Development.

AJEEC-NISPED is an Arab-Jewish organization for social change that began its activities in the Negev in the year 2000, and functions today all over Israel. The organization works in four main areas: promoting shared life between Arabs and Jews all over Israel, leadership and social involvement for youth and young adults (ages 15-25), community development in Arab society in Israel, and promoting the health and wellbeing of the child.

The meaning of AJEEC in Arabic is I come towards you. This is an expression of the community approach that leads the organization’s work in development and leading responses appropriate to the assets and needs of different communities, in partnership with the local leadership and government actors, with 30 Arab and Jewish local authorities and both local and national partners.

AJEEC, one of the largest civil society organizations in Israel, employs 200 people and coordinates 1,500 volunteers, including around 900 AJEEC gap year volunteers who have graduated from high school. AJEEC also runs a youth organization, Shabibat AJEEC (AJEEC Youth) - one of the first youth organizations of its kind in Arab society—which is recognized by the Ministry of Education and has 10,000 members. AJEEC shared society activities involve over 1,000 participants per year and overall the organization reaches over 25,000 beneficiaries each year.

As hostilities continue to escalate across the region, AJEEC is providing critical support to thousands of Arab and Bedouin citizens of Israel - addressing both immediate needs and long-term challenges.

The organization was devastated by Hamas's brutal attack on Israel on October 7th, during which our beloved Co-Founder, Vivian Silver Z"l was murdered. AJEEC mourned the loss of both Jewish and Arab lives that day, and the grief has only deepened with the ongoing war in Gaza. We are currently building the Vivian Silver Center for Shared Society to make her vision come true.

We appriciate your support in building a better future for all.

If you wish to give via wire transfer :Bank: 12 Branch: 770 Account:616100

IBAN: IL870127700000000616100Swift code: POALILIT