PROJECTS | Education

Bervin JNF Canada House of Excellence

Sept 2023 Update: Construction is on schedule and making good progress. The exterior construction is almost done, with concrete being poured for walls and the sloped roof starting. Interior work is also starting, with plastering and ceramic tiling. 

Nov 2022 Update: The JNF Canada mission was in Be’er Sheva for the groundbreaking of the Bervin House project.  

Who you will help
The “Bervin House”, a flagship JNF Canada project, will be an academic centre for high school students in Sderot, with a mission to give the young people of Sderot the educational advantages needed to improve their social mobility and prosperity. Combining modern design, state-of-the-art technology, professional instructors, and qualified madrichim (guidance counsellors), the Bervin House will be a key institution for Sderot’s next generation of leaders, who do not have access to the educational opportunities available in larger cities. 

About Bervin JNF Canada House of Excellence
"Bervin" come from combining the parents of the lead donor, who funded this project in their honour. The Bervin House will have bright, open lounging spaces, lots of natural light and a serene landscaped courtyard for outdoor studying. There will be classrooms, a multipurpose event hall, meeting rooms, patio, kitchenette and a unique experiential learning hub. The facility will withstand direct missile attacks and be accessible to people with disabilities, allowing more students to have a safe and open learning facility. Programming at the Bervin House will be designed to prepare students for the current job market, with professionals from various sectors helping students develop their interpersonal skills and specially trained alumni soldiers will provide courses in high-tech, technological entrepreneurship and innovation. The students will be tutored in core subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and English - taught in small group classes with innovative learning modules and simulation games. A number of educational institutes will also be involved in curriculum development and operation of the learning center.

Location
The Bervin House is in Sderot, 2km from the Gaza border. JNF has a long history of community support in Sderot, including building portable bomb shelters, protected playgrounds, “getaway” trips for children during times of stress, and public parks and spaces.