Introduction
There are few experiences in life as unique as the South African Zionist Summer Camps - The Machanot. Every year at Habonim Dror Machaneh, thousands of young Jews are transformed into responsible, accountable and socially conscious young people.
For three weeks in December, Habonim Dror hosts a world-famous summer camp that is the highlight of thousands of young people's year. Join us for three weeks of fun and sun on our beautiful campsite in Onrus. Sleep beneath the trees, relax everyday on the beach, play sport, learn new crafts, sing songs you'll only ever sing at Habonim Dror, sit and chat around campfires and make life-long friends that will be a part of your life forever!
Habonim prides itself on maintaining the highest level of child-care which is guaranteed by our highly trained team of two hundred madrichim (counsellors) – many of whom have spend a year in Israel undergoing intense hadracha (leadership ) and chinnuch (education) training.
Habonim is a safe and secure Jewish environment for kids from across Southern Africa – including Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, The Eastern Cape, Durban, Bloemfontein, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Here, young Jewish children have the chance to meet one another and share in an identity-shaping Jewish and Zionist experience. We are privileged to have a number of foreign children and madrichim join us from Israel, Australia, the US and England, amongst other places.
Themes relating to Israel and South Africa are explored in depth as we give hundreds of children a sense of self and Jewish identity, coupled with a more critical and pro-active look at the challenges facing us and our surroundings. Children will return home with a strengthened value system, a stronger belief in themselves and as confident young adults.