64 Jewish and non-Jewish educators participated in the seminar, arriving in Israel in order to be introduced up close to the societal, historical and cultural complexity of the country, and to acquire educational tools that could be implemented in their educational work with students and communities in Australia.
During the tour, the participants were exposed to Israel's diverse landscapes, to its historical stories and to the educational, environmental and communal initiatives led by KKL-JNF, in cooperation with JNF Australia. The visits in the field were combined with encounters with educators, community leaders and students, enabling an open and significant dialogue about identity, belonging and educational challenges in a multicultural society.
The connection forged between the participants and Israel was described by one of the educators from Sydney, Garron Forman, who said that "The visit connected us to the history of Israel. We get to see up close the impressive work in all the fields and the people's deep love for their country".
In northern Israel, the educators encountered living communities near the border with Lebanon, and visited archaeological sites from the Talmudic period, along with geopolitical tours of the Golan Heights and exposure to KKL-JNF activity in preserving nature and regional development. One of the participants, Annette Webster of Melbourne, noted that "The tour opened up an entire world of educational work. I understood that KKL-JNF engages in far more than just tree planting – it has a much broader and deeper educational vision".
The continued journey in Jerusalem revolved around an encounter between the past and present: Tours of historical and holy sites along with an introduction to the present-day fabric of life in the city. The special event at Ammunition Hill, marking Israel's 70th anniversary and 50 years since the unification of Jerusalem, emphasized for the participants the human and educational meaning of the Israeli story. Debbi Benn of Perth shared that "We are teaching the Six Day War in class, but to stand here and to feel the history – that is an entirely different experience".
During the seminar's southern portion, the participants visited towns in the Gaza Envelope and the Western Negev, where they were exposed to the security challenges alongside inspiring educational and social initiatives. The encounter with educators and students who live in the region strengthened the understanding regarding social cohesion and educational resilience. Lindi Bloch of Australia noted that "It is amazing to see how children living near the border managed to conduct a full, vigorous and loving life – just like students in Australia".
The journey continued to the Arava, where the educators were exposed to the pioneering spirit of the desert settlements, the advanced agricultural developments and the international educational initiatives. Rob De Marco, one of the participants from Bialik College, Melbourne, said that "It is inspiring to see how a shared vision and determination succeeded in bringing life and creation to the desert".
On the final day of the seminar, the participants were invited to engage in the formulation of a personal and professional educational vision, out of an understanding of their position as the educators who influence the next generation. Malca Barkai, the supervisor for the seminars in the Diaspora Zionist Identity Empowerment Department, emphasized to the participants that "Educators have a profound influence upon the shaping of the identity of the young generation, and therefore your personal and educational vision is a central component in the work".
The seminar was concluded with an emotional final ceremony, in which the participants shared the significant posts they passed through during the journey and committed to continue to assimilate the contents, values and tools they acquired in their educational work in Australia.