Omri Gaiger's Contact Details

Omri Gaiger's Company Details

Eretz-Ir NGO

Be'er Sheva, South District, Israel • 21 Employees
Civic & Social Organization

Eretz-Ir ("Nation, City") is an Israeli nonprofit established in 2006 that promotes community and economic resilience in cities across Israel's periphery. Eretz-Ir focuses on improving the quality of life in cities in the periphery through community, social entrepreneurship, and employment. We always work with local residents who join us in propelling educational, cultural and economic change from the bottom up. Many in Israel believe that one must live in the center of the country to find a job, have a nice home and a high quality of life. At Eretz-Ir we are working to change that perception. We believe that in order for Israel to prosper, young adults and families must see cities in the periphery as a viable and desirable place to live, offering the dream of an affordable home, a strong community life, rich cultural events, and local involvement. Community: Supporting 21st Century Pioneers Eretz-Ir works to promote diverse community life in order to ensure long-term stay in peripheral cities and attract more young people. Residents in cities with actively involved communities report a higher life-satisfaction and are more likely to become involved in social change. Eretz-Ir guides 27 communities from all backgrounds, religions, and cultures, in 17 cities around the country. These groups of young pioneers maintain community life and develop social projects which benefit the entire city in a variety of the fields including of employment, education, culture, and more. Social Entrepreneurship: Developing the economy, while promoting social services for local populationsSocial entrepreneurship is a central part of a healthy community. It creates public participation as well as innovative solutions to the needs of the community. Eretz-Ir guides young social entrepreneurs, enabling them to develop a sustainable business model, and to create new jobs and social services for the benefit of local residents. To date, we have worked with 150 social entrepreneurs through individual and group mentoring, operated 7 accelerator programs for entrepreneurs throughout the country, and run a hub for entrepreneurs in Be'er Sheva.Employment: The periphery is a viable option to live and workDeveloping innovative solutions and tri-sector partnerships to promote quality and diversity of employment in the Negev, Eretz-Ir works with dozens of employment organizations, hundreds of employers, factories and companies, and thousands of young people. We work in cooperation with JNF US to develop employment through the Lauder Employment Center, and operate three NetGev Centers - hubs for remote employment in Hura, Dimona and Arad.Eretz-Ir Social Tourism: Showcasing local communities and providing business for local residentsOur social tourism venture provides tourists with a meaningful and authentic Israeli experience. Since January 2016, more than 150 tour groups and 4,000 participants have taken part in Eretz-Ir's social tourism program. We provide an alternative look into diverse populations and societal challenges via face to face encounters with local activists and mission driven communities. Revenue generated from community visits is re-invested in various local social enterprises. We believe that in order to improve the quality of life in the city, human urban renewal is required. Our actions stem from the field and in turn, positively affect it. Today, cities are a key factor in turning the periphery into a center of meeting, renewal and innovation, for the sake of a good and prosperous country.