Students depart for Israel on AVI educational mission

Our newest cohort of Common Ground Ambassadors includes students from a dozen campuses across Canada

A few of our incoming Common Ground Ambassadors at Pearson Airport before departing for Israel (Dec. 25, 2025)

On behalf of Allied Voices for Israel (AVI), I am pleased to share that a new cohort of AVI Student Ambassadors from a dozen campuses across Canada have taken off for Israel on our Common Ground educational mission.

This group brings together students of all backgrounds, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, hailing from campuses including University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, University of Manitoba, University of Ottawa, University of Calgary, Carleton University, Dawson College, Université de Montréal, McMaster University, University of Toronto, York University, and University of Regina.  Several students are visiting Israel for the first time.

The core purpose of this trip is not tourism. It is training. Over ten days, students will take part in intensive programming designed to move from dialogue to impact, equipping them with the skills and confidence to build real coalitions when they return to their campuses. 

A few highlights include:

• Building Meaningful Alliances Workshop: A dedicated session to develop practical skills for building coalitions on campus;

• Interfaith First Responders: Meeting with Israeli paramedics who are both Jewish and Christian from Magen David Adom to discuss coexistence on the front lines;

• Honouring Victims of Oct. 7: Visiting the sites of the Nova attacks (Re'im, Sderot, Tkuma) and meeting a survivor with a survivor of the Nova attacks

• Exploring Ramle: Visiting Ramle to meet with local residents and explore the social periphery of Jewish-Arab relations;

• Perspectives on Peace: Conversations with peace activists and leaders like Ihab Balha (Islamic Cleric), Eden Barzoabi (Israeli Arab activist), Avi Mayer (former Editor-in-Chief of Jerusalem Post), Moshe Leon (Mayor of Jerusalem), Khaled Abu Toameh (Israeli Arab journalist), Jonathan Elkhoury (Israeli-Lebanese advoacte), and many others;

• Cultural Immersion: Sharing a traditional meal with the Druze community in Isfiya and hear the personal story of Ashagar Araro over Ethiopian dinner at Balinjera.

Students will also gain critical geopolitical context through briefings with senior experts, journalists, and public officials, ensuring their advocacy is grounded in facts, nuance, and lived experience. 

When these students return home, they will utilize their experience in Israel as Ambassadors for Israel, human rights, and peace. 

We are deeply proud of this cohort and grateful to all of you who, through your support, helped make this journey possible! I will keep you posted with more details as our trip progresses.