How a Volunteering Project Brought Two Neighborhoods in Lod Together

Two neighborhoods in Lod sit a few hundred meters apart, separated by a neglected public park. For years, few residents from either side used it.

One Park, Two Groups

This year, two BU groups, one from each neighborhood, took on a joint project: restoring the park. The teenagers met every two weeks, first in separate groups and later together.

From Planning to Planting

The participants divided the work into teams: design, fundraising, and communication with residents. With help from the municipality and local businesses, they cleaned the area, planted trees, painted benches and installed new lighting.

Conversations Along the Way

The most important part of the project happened between tasks. Working together on the same bench or flowerbed, the teenagers talked about school, family and their plans for the future.

"At the beginning we only spoke to people from our own group. By the end, we had one WhatsApp group for everyone." – Adi, 17

The Opening Day

In May, more than 200 residents from both neighborhoods came to the park's reopening. The teenagers led the event in Hebrew and Arabic.

What We Learned

Shared responsibility builds trust faster than discussions alone. The groups plan to continue maintaining the park together next year.