Who we are
Our Activities
The association contributes to the professional development of social workers, psychologists, and related professionals in the social and behavioral sciences who work in education and therapy. It encourages interest and participation in international professional exchange programs organized by CIF (Council of International Fellowship) and CIPUSA (Council of International Programs USA).Since 1997, the association has organized training programs in Israel and hosts international professionals annually (except for 2020–2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). It also supports Israeli professionals in participating in training programs and international conferences through the organization.
CIF – Council of International Fellowship
An umbrella organization of volunteers working to promote professionals in the social and behavioral sciences. The organization has a long history of fostering international fellowship through professional and cultural advancement. Every member of the international organization has participated in an exchange program either in their own country or abroad. www.cifinternational.com
CIPUSA – Council of International Programs USA
Founded in 1956, this parent organization was established to create a global professional network and provide international training programs for professionals. Since its founding, approximately 15,000 professionals from 147 countries have participated in its diverse training programs.www.cipusa.org
History
The origins of CIF lie within CIPUSA. The founder, Dr. Henry B. Ollendorff, a lawyer and social worker, was forced to flee Nazi Germany in 1938 and immigrated to the United States, where he pursued studies and work in social work. Dr. Ollendorff’s vision was to create opportunities for youth leaders and social workers from different countries to meet and learn from each other through international professional-cultural exchange programs, aiming to prevent a recurrence of the atrocities of World War II. The program, which began in Cleveland, Ohio, attracted professionals from around the world seeking training in diverse fields. Participants returned to their home countries enriched with insights and experience and initiated the establishment of an international organization—CIF—which was officially registered in Bonn, Germany, in 1960.
The Association's Purpose
The purpose of the association is to contribute to the development of therapeutic and educational approaches and methods, treatment strategies, and solutions to social problems, thereby promoting international peace and fellowship.
Goals of the Association:
- To enable professionals from various countries and cultures to share knowledge and experience through mutual learning in Israel.
- To introduce international professionals to the cultural and social structure of Israel, its professional services, and its cultural diversity.
- To provide Israeli professionals with opportunities for professional and cultural exchange in countries that are members of the organization.
- To familiarize participants with professional work in the fields of welfare, education, society, and culture in Israel.
- To provide an understanding of Israel’s social and cultural structure as an immigration-absorbing society.
- To create goodwill ambassadors for Israel around the world after their participation in the training program.
- To provide direct exposure to diverse lifestyles and cultures within Israel.
- Enhancing sensitivity to diversity;
- Increasing tolerance and patience among individuals;
- Strengthening and shaping the professional identity of participants;
- Facilitating mutual professional learning;
- Encouraging cooperation in the development of initiatives.
The International Organization's Branches and the Contact Persons
Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Cameroon, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Russia, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, USA (CIPUSA organization)
14 Contact Persons and Branches in Formation:
China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Vietnam
Branches and Contact Persons addresses:
https://cifinternational.com/branches-contacts
Activities
Conferences
The international organization, in cooperation with the host branch, organizes an international conference once every two years to preserve the vision and goals of the organization. The conferences present current professional topics and trends and allow the organization's members and friends to meet and create social and professional connections around the world.
Continued
International Exchange Programs (IPEPs)
The exchange programs take place in various countries around the world and in different states in the U.S.A. The participants are professionals from the fields of social welfare, social science, nursing care, education, and related care-taking fields.
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Exchange Programs in Israel
Israel has been conducting professional exchange programs for international professionals every spring since 1997, and has so far hosted approximately 50 participants from many countries around the world, including: the USA, Austria, Estonia, Belgium, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Turkey, Spain, Latvia, Norway, Taiwan, Finland, the Czech Republic, France, Switzerland, Sweden, and Thailand. The participants are professionals from the fields of behavioral sciences, social welfare, nursing, education, and related therapeutic professions. Most of the participants come from the field of social work. These exchange programs are unique in that the participants are hosted in the homes of local members, and the program is tailored to their professional interests. The training includes an orientation to Israeli society from organizational, economic, social, and political perspectives, visits to institutions, and meetings with professionals. What makes the program particularly special is the home hospitality, offering participants close exposure to local life. The professional program is structured and includes orientation to Israel's organizational, social, economic, and political systems, as well as professional site visits and networking with local professionals. This approach enables participants to learn about work methods and professional environments within Israel’s diverse socio-cultural context. The host families benefit from getting to know different cultures and from building international interpersonal relationships. The exchange program in Israel was postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2022 with three participants from Spain, Taiwan, and an Australian participant from Thailand. The 2023 program included four participants from Germany, Finland, Switzerland, and Turkey. The programs planned for 2024 and 2025 were canceled due to the war. The program for 2026 has been published on social media.
ContinuedThe Board Members
Vice President: Nili Dror nilid18@gmail.com
Secretary: Hana Gibor-Elisha hana@yeadim.co.il
Treasurer: Eilat Galili eilatgl@walla.co.il
Member at Large: Dr. Yaron Ziv yaronziv88@gmail.com
Member at Large: Ruth Flesh fruthi@bezeqint.net
Join Us
Gallery
Administrative Guides and written Instructions
Association Documents for Members and Candidates:
Membership in the Association: חברות בסניף הישראלי.docx
Documents of the International Organization and the Association
Organization Publications for Workplaces and Professional Events:
דף הסבר העמותה הישראלית 2025.pdf
Host families contributing and benefiting from hosting, fulfilling the Organization's vision of "Promoting understanding and peace between nations and cultures":
Here are some documents to help hosts:
המלצות למשפחות המארחות בישראל.
הנחיות בדבר הוצאות במהלך תכנית ההשתלמות בישראל.docx
Presentations for use in IPEPs abroad:
- Nechami presentation.pdf: A presentation by Nechami Cohen about herself and Israel, presented during a professional program in the Netherlands in the fall of 2013.
מצגת של הדס.pdf : A presentation by Hadass Zeev about Israel and her work, presented during a professional program in the U.S. in the summer of 2017.
CIF ISRAEL PRESENTS Peace project .pdf: A presentation by Edna Bar-On about Israel, presented at the "Peace Project" conference in Italy in 2018, including accompanying text. Presentation.docx.
Videos on Sites in Israel: Israel Sites.docx
NEWS
Branch News:
The 2026 exchange program was published on social media in the hope that the war will end. The publication is here:
CIF Israel 2026_Designed Flyer new.pdf
The exchange programs in Israel for the years 2024 and 2025 were canceled due to the war.
The 2023 CIF Israel IPEP 2023 .pdf included four participants from Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Turkey.
Program details:
CIF Israel Program 2023 detailed last .pdf
An article by the participant from Switzerland was published in the organization’s bulletin in 2024 and is available here:
Priska CIF IPEP 2023 report final.pdf
The 2021 exchange program was postponed to May 2022 due to COVID-19 and entry restrictions to Israel. It was held with three participants: one from Spain, one from Taiwan, and an Australian participant from Thailand:
Israel IPEP 2022.pdf
Program in English:
CIF Israel Program 2022 detailed amended .pdf
Exchange program report titled "Peace Project":
CIF Israel Peace Project 2022 article.pdf
Branch Meetings:
Since 2023, the association has been holding hybrid meetings (via Zoom and in person) four to five times a year, including a face-to-face meeting with the participants upon their arrival in May and at the conclusion of the exchange program.
Photos from the exchange programs can be found in the gallery on the branch’s website.
A professional-cultural-social seminar of Mediterranean branches planned to be held in Nicosia, Cyprus, during a long weekend in March 2025, was postponed to April and ultimately canceled due to cost and scheduling issues.
Branch Tours in Israel – 2020, 2021, and 2023:
- Southern Israel Tour, January 23–24, 2020:
- סיור בדרום 23-24 בינואר 2020.pdf
- Northern Israel Tour, June 2021:
- סיור חברי העמותה בצפון יוני 2021.pdf
- Jerusalem Tour Program and Summary, March 2023:
- תכנית הסיור לחברי העמותה בירושלים וסיכום הסיור מרץ 2023.pdf
International Organization News:
The list of exchange programs for 2025 has been published on the international website. Registration is closed for all programs except for the one in Nepal.
The list of 2026 programs is available at the international website under the PROGRAMS section.
The next international conference will take place in India in November 2025. Conference announcement:
36th CIF conference- Presentation .pdf
The last international conference was held in Germany on June 12, 2023. Impressions and updates can be found on the international organization's website.
A special conference to mark the 70th anniversary of CIPUSA will be held in the USA in 2026.
International Organization Board Meetings:
In 2024, board meetings were held both virtually and in person in November in Morocco.
In 2023, meetings were held in person during the conference in Germany (June 2023).
Previous meetings were held virtually in August 2021, April 2022, and October 2022.
Since the beginning of 2025, several international meetings have been held virtually.
CIF International Annual Report for 2024:
CIF Annual Report 2024.pdf
CIF International Newsletter for 2025:
WN 2025.pdf