Gvahim

During the past ten years, a growing number of talented professionals from North America and Europe countries have decided to make aliyah and develop their professional career in Israel. Gvahim (the Hebrew word for "heights") was launched in March 2006 through a cooperative effort of the Ami Association, the Association of French Alumni in Israel, the Rashi Foundation and a group of Israeli business leaders, with the mission of helping highly qualified new immigrants fulfill their professional goals in Israel.

Formerly known as the Projet Grandes Ecoles et Universites, the program first reached out to French-speaking immigrants, but today serves young adults who have arrived in Israel from Europe and the USA. Nefesh B' Nefesh and Israemploy recently joined the project to help Gvahim reach non-French speaking highly qualified olim.

Activities

Gvahim offers participants different types of services designed to promote their professional success in Israel:

Individual support – Consultation with a human resources specialist, preparation for interviews and provision of useful tips for effective job searching. Also, individual support by an Israeli professional: definition of career plan and objectives, advice and network development.

Professional workshops– These workshops provide Gvahim’s participants with skills and knowledge useful for their job search: An overview of the Israeli market and of specific sectors, meetings with Israeli business leaders, visits of Israeli leading companies, tips for salary negotiation and more.

Networking– Gvahim’s professional networks – the Financial network, the Marketing & Communication network and the Technology and Industry network – were established by leading volunteers of Gvahim as a platform where Israeli professionals link up with highly qualified olim (including ex-olim with a significant professional experience in Israel).

Gvahim in figures
165 new immigrants have participated in Gvahim since its creation in March 2006. With or without experience, they are all graduates of French leading universities and Grandes Ecoles. Among the 130 participants in the four first sessions of the project, 77% found a position in the Israeli marketplace and 75% of them feel their job fit their professional skills and level. Gvahim's next session starts at the end of October 2008 and includes talented olim from English speaking and French speaking countries.