Last week we welcomed 28 new students and interns from the Middle East and all over the world on our campus. This new international community of learners, dreamers, and change-makers is now getting ready to live, learn, and grow together in the heart of the desert.
The week-long orientation program set the tone for the months ahead, blending community building, academic preparation, and cultural immersion.
The week began with a warm welcome to Kibbutz Ketura, during which the participants received their first taste of community life, sharing meals in the dining hall, settling into their rooms, and discovering the unique spirit of the desert. Early sessions included a campus tour, introductions to Kibbutz members, and a pool break to cool off under the desert sun.
Executive Director Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed shared with the Fall 2025 students and interns the vision of the Arava Institute and its role in advancing cross-border environmental cooperation and dialogue. In a session titled “Why Are We Here?” Program Director Cathie Granit invited them to reflect on their personal motivations for joining this community, an exercise that highlighted the diversity of experiences and aspirations in the group. The group also had an opportunity to get their hands dirty during a gardening session on campus, connecting sustainability in theory with practice.
The regional orientation trip brought everyone out of the classroom and into the breathtaking landscapes of the Arava. Through meeting researchers at the Dead Sea & Arava Science Center, a visit to the International Birding & Research Center in Eilat, and a desert night activity at the Nahal Kasui sand dunes, students were able to engage directly with the region’s unique ecology and environmental challenges.
With orientation complete, classes and internships began this Sunday, and the cohort has already stepped into the rhythm of academic and community life. The weeks ahead will bring rigorous study, hands-on research, and ongoing dialogue on some of the most pressing environmental and peace-building challenges in our region.
As always, the Arava Institute offers more than an academic program – it is a living experiment in cooperation, resilience, and hope. We are excited to see how this diverse and passionate group of students and interns will shape, and be shaped by, their time here.