Expanding Vocational Education Partnerships in Berlin

Last week, Amal’s Director of Partnerships, Ms Noa Katanov, participated in the German-Israeli Networking Conference 2025 in Berlin: an event bringing together educators, local authorities, youth movements, government officials, civil society organizations, and school partnership coordinators from both countries. For the first time, the conference opened its doors to representatives of vocational education, reflecting growing interest in career-focused learning and workforce development.

Hosted through the collaboration of the Israel Youth Exchange Authority and its German counterpart, ConAct, the conference focused on strengthening ties between school networks, sparking new strategic partnerships, and deepening shared commitments to democracy, solidarity and collective remembrance. Dialogue and workshops centered on urgent issues including education in times of crisis, combating antisemitism and racism, digital innovation and expanding long-term collaborations. Amal’s representative joined professional exchanges, hands-on learning sessions and visits with vocational training centers such as Lehrbauhof Berlin.

The activities held during the visit supported valuable connections with German vocational schools, paving the way for future youth and teacher exchanges within Amal’s network. Such visits and networks are not symbolic; they directly strengthen the quality and relevance of the education Amal provides to its diverse students, especially in vocational fields that prepare them for the future economy. At a time when Israel often finds itself isolated in international forums and professional arenas, invitations of this kind – and the long-term partnerships they enable – are critical for rebuilding trust, opening doors for our young people, and ensuring that education remains a powerful bridge between Israel and the world.