These feelings that I experienced are completely normal at the beginning of year course and everyone feels these emotions in one way or another. So how can FZY help? The management of expectations is something that FZY have developed over the last few years and I personally believe it can be developed further. I intend to introduce a buddy system for the prospective year coursers. By this I mean that everyone participating in year course is allocated a buddy, either someone who is currently on year course or members of the bogrim. These buddies are there to answer any questions and provide any support that is needed. As well as this the buddies can also be used as a web based support whilst participants are in Israel. Why introduce a buddy system of bogrim? FZY is a youth movement, personally I believe that as a youth movement we should be connecting all stages of FZY. By creating links whilst on year course we can develop them on return and help returning bogrim to feel association with the movement having been away from the UK for a year. As well as this many people get upset and depressed when returning from year course, I know I did, the buddies again can be there for support and advice on dealing with this problem. Again strengthening the links between age groups in the movement.
The gap year industry as a whole has suffered a major set back with the rise in tuition fees and this is a major challenge for FZY. Due to the rise in price of tuition year course numbers have taken a serious hit. Although this current year course can be considered as an anomaly that doesn't mean that the numbers will instantly increase back up to the heights of previous years. Financially it is very difficult times and this has a major effect on our numbers. However by maintaining the price of year course FZY will illustrate a desire to provide the most diverse and the best year course program available.
So what can FZY do to repair this decrease in numbers? First I believe that currently the role of Year Course Recruiter is vital in the office, as it is the first stage of going on year course. The FZY recruiter needs to be passionate and approachable much like our previous recruiters Ben King-Scott, Emma Nagli and of course Dena Addlestone. However just having the Year Course Recruiter working on the prospective participants is simply not enough. If I were to be elected Mazkir I would continue to promote year course in schools with high numbers of jewish students. Therefore not only should FZY visit jewish schools but also institutions such as HABS or Manchester High School. Not only should this be the job of the Year Course Recruiter but also it should be assisted by members of the bogrim who have personal connections with these schools. The marathon of phone calls that are required to be made should be assisted by bogrim, especially tour madrichim. Post tour the connection of madrichim with their chanichim is an exceptionally strong bond, everyone remembers their tour leaders. This means that as the involvement of the tour leader, in kedma activities, does not end post tour the involvement of madrichim in the recruitment process is vital. For a future participant of year course to receive a call from someone they are familiar with is a huge icebreaker and allows a more open conversation about the reasons to go on year course and the doubt and concerns that may be present in the minds of the chanichim.
Year Course was the best decision of my entire life as it allowed me to grow into the person I am today. I made friends for life and learnt more about what israel really means to me. The feeling of surrounding oneself within israeli culture and society is one that I will remember forever and recommend to anyone.
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