The weakening of democracies is not only a local phenomenon, but a concerning global trend.
In Israel as well, amid growing social divisions, increasingly polarized public discourse, and declining trust, there is a rising need to strengthen democratic resilience among teenagers and young adults- the ability to think critically, hold complexity, navigate disagreement without losing shared ground, and believe in their capacity to influence reality.
Matzmichim Academy operates as a non-political and non-partisan organization, developing educational and social responses in this field in collaboration with leading partners across education, democracy, and civil society.
Strengthening Democratic Resilience
“What I appreciated about the workshop is that it connected strongly to our everyday lives. It didn’t feel abstract or detached from reality, but rather accessible and relatable.”
-Workshop participant, Mechinat Reut, Kiryat Tiv'on
77%
83%
76%
of participants reported that, following the workshop, they expect a higher standard of leadership behavior- both within their groups and in the broader political sphere.
of participants expressed a clear rejection of the harmful impacts of populist behavior in both group dynamics and politics.
of participants reported a stronger sense of belonging and greater confidence in voicing their perspectives in group discussions as a result of the workshop.
Democratic Resilience Workshops for Teenagers and Young Adults
At Matzmichim Academy, we use the social experiences of youth and young adults as a lens for understanding the broader political and public sphere, grounding learning in real-life situations.
Through experiential workshops, we create a meaningful connection between young people’s social world and their understanding of civic life. Rather than approaching politics in an abstract or prescriptive way, we center discussions on familiar experiences- power dynamics, social pressure, positive vs negative leadership, and group influence. These serve as a foundation for developing critical thinking, understanding the social costs of aggressive and populist leadership, and exploring models of leadership that are more responsible, inclusive, and service-oriented.
The program is currently in a development and pilot phase within pre-military preparatory programs, with the goal of building an educational response that is relevant, thoughtful, and engaging, one that helps young people make sense of their environment and strengthens their sense of agency to contribute to positive change.
Strengthening Democracy in the Digital Space
Alongside its educational work, Matzmichim Academy is developing a social media campaign aimed at strengthening democratic values among young people. In a digital environment often dominated by extreme, fear-driven, and divisive messages, it is not enough to engage with democracy at a theoretical level; there is a need to rebuild an emotional connection to civic partnership, shared responsibility, and the ability to live with disagreement.
The campaign responds to the erosion of positive engagement with democratic values and seeks to promote a different kind of public discourse- one that reinforces responsibility, embraces complexity, and fosters hope and a sense of belonging.
This work is carried out in partnership with the International Institute for Democratic Resilience at Beit Berl Academic College.