At SparkIL, we believe that real social change does not happen solely in lecture halls or boardrooms. It starts on the ground, in local communities, and through personal human connections. That belief inspired the launch of IMPACT, an innovative pilot program developed in collaboration with Hillel Israel for students at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Our goal was simple yet ambitious: move beyond theoretical discussions of social responsibility and give students practical experience with social entrepreneurship, mutual responsibility, and social lending. We wanted to show how even small, focused actions can ignite a lasting, positive movement across Israeli society.
Bridging Values, Business, and Community
The seven session journey was designed to seamlessly connect academic learning with real world application, offering students a comprehensive look at the power of micro loans and community resilience.
During the first session, students gathered to explore how small businesses serve as the lifeblood of the Israeli economy, learning how micro loans empower individuals to lift up whole communities. The second session offered a deep dive into social business models, corporate responsibility, and philanthropy, comparing traditional business structures with social enterprises. In the third session, the group examined Jewish identity, community resilience, and the essential bond between Israel and Diaspora Jewish communities worldwide.
For the fourth session, students stepped out of the classroom for a field business tour in Be’er Sheva to meet two local small business owners supported by SparkIL. Hearing personal stories and learning about daily operational challenges allowed students to see the real human impact behind the numbers. In the fifth session, students put their knowledge into action as each participant chose a business that resonated with them, analyzed its unique story, crafted compelling content, and engaged others to build visibility and support. Finally, during the sixth and seventh sessions, participants gathered for reflection, feedback, and graduation, sharing personal key takeaways and insights to help refine future cohorts. Upon completing the program, each participating student received a 1,000 NIS scholarship in recognition of their dedication and meaningful contributions.
The Real Impact: Moving Beyond the Classroom
What made the IMPACT program truly unique was its synthesis of education, mentorship, and active field work. Guest lectures from key leaders, including Simon, Yishai Goldflam, and Mor Abras, complemented the invaluable guidance provided by Hillel Israel team members Livia, Maya, and Yishai.
“My goal from a personal perspective is for more young people to be exposed to the worlds of impact, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility during their studies,” says Mor Abras, Director of Partnerships for Israel at SparkIL. “Even if not everyone goes on to establish a social venture, simply understanding that each person has the power to make an impact, through community, businesses, and people, is a huge success. This program was an opportunity for us to show that you can connect values, society, and economy, and turn ideas into real action.”
When young leaders learn during their university years that they hold the tools to drive social change, whether through community initiatives, business development, or social loans, they carry that mindset throughout their professional lives. A single social loan can empower a local entrepreneur to realize a dream, scale a business, and strengthen local economic resilience. By blending core values with practical economic solutions, the IMPACT program proved that big change starts with small, purposeful steps.
Stay tuned as we continue to expand our educational initiatives and empower vision driven entrepreneurs across Israel! To learn more or get involved, reach out to Mor Abras, Director of Partnerships for Israel, at [email protected].