First Student Village to Be Established at Farm in Benjamin Region

The Benjamin Regional Council is advancing the establishment of Israel's first student village, to be located at a farm along Route 417 in the Benjamin region. The initiative, spearheaded by the Association of Farm Villages under the umbrella of Torah BaChava, aims to strengthen these farms and bolster presence in open areas through a young community that will reside there. These students will integrate agricultural work and security duties with their academic studies.

Participating farm families currently bear the daily responsibility for extensive areas, grazing, and agricultural labor. The students' involvement will provide them with additional, consistent support and allow young people to combine their university years with a role in the settlement enterprise. Under the program, students will receive housing for a symbolic rent and a scholarship. In return, they will dedicate 140 volunteer hours per farm, including assistance with ongoing work and security shifts. Joint social and community activities will also be organized.

The first village is intended to serve as a base for expanding this model to other farms in Benjamin and connecting several adjacent farms to a single student community. The initiative is led by the Benjamin Plus youth department and the Benjamin Regional Council, in cooperation with the Ministry of Settlement, the Yesha Council, the Orot Eliraz association, and its community.

Head of the Benjamin Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, Israel Gantz, stated, "Benjamin is proud to break new ground and establish a student village at a farm together with the Ministry of Settlement. Students have proven in the past how they revitalize and strengthen settlements. Now we are enlisting them to strengthen settlement and protect open areas. They will be a force multiplier for the farm families and partners in defending Benjamin, Judea and Samaria, and the entire State of Israel. From here, we will expand the initiative to additional farms and nurture a young generation building the future of settlement."

Minister of Settlement and National Missions, Orit Strock, added, "The integration of students in assisting and supporting the farm enterprise is a significant step up in Israel's ability to contend with and win the battle for open areas. I thank the Benjamin Regional Council for leading this initiative and wish great success to both the students and the farmers. The Ministry of Settlement will accompany the new project at the first chosen farm and expand it to other farms as needed."