The weakening of democracies is not only a local phenomenon, but a troubling global trend.
In Israel as well, against the background of growing social division, increasingly confrontational public discourse, and eroding trust, there is a growing need to strengthen democratic resilience among teenagers and young adults: the ability to think critically, hold complexity, navigate disagreement without breaking apart common ground, and believe in their power 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 from the worlds of 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 different standard of leadership behavior—both within their groups and in the broader political sphere.
of participants expressed a clear rejection of the harmful consequences of populist behavior in group dynamics and politics.
of participants reported that, as a result of the workshop, they feel a stronger sense of belonging and greater confidence in voicing their perspectives in group discussions.
Democratic Resilience Workshops for Teenagers and Young Adults
At Matzmichim Academy, we transform the social lives of youth and young adults into a lens for understanding the political sphere—through learning grounded in real-life experiences.
Experiential workshops that create a meaningful connection between the social world of young people and their understanding of the public and political arena. Rather than discussing politics in an abstract or preaching way, we create conversations around experiences that are familiar in the lives of young people: power dynamics, social pressure, positive and negative leadership, and group influence. These become the foundation for learning about critical thinking, the social costs of aggressive and populist leadership, and the possibility of promoting leadership that is more restorative, responsible, and service-oriented.
The program is currently in a development and pilot phase in pre-military preparatory programs, with the goal of building an educational response that is relevant, sensitive, and engaging - one that helps young people connect to what is happening around them and strengthens their sense that they can take part of positive change.
Strengthening Democracy in the Digital Space
Alongside its educational work in the field, Matzmichim Academy is also developing a social media impact campaign aimed at strengthening the democratic ethos among young people. In a world where social media is flooded with extreme, fear-driven, and divisive messages, it is not enough to speak about democratic values only on a theoretical level; there is also a need to rebuild an emotional connection to democracy, civic partnership, and the ability to live together despite disagreement.
The campaign is designed to address the erosion of positive feelings toward democracy and to encourage a different kind of public discourse - one that strengthens responsibility, complexity, 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.