Active Jewish Teens (AJT) — the flagship JDC program, in partnership with BBYO, that brings together thousands of Jewish teenagers in dozens of cities across the former Soviet Union (FSU) — is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
Since its 2014 start with one teen club in Kharkiv, Ukraine, the program has now grown to reach more than 2,800 participants annually across seven countries. As it’s grown, it has also begun to engage younger children, with an offshoot initiative — AJT Junior — reaching nearly 1,700 8- to 12-year-olds in 2023. AJT also works to integrate young Jews with disabilities through its FreeDOM initiative.
In a number of countries throughout the FSU, alumni now proudly volunteer and serve in leadership roles across Jewish Community Centers (JCCs), Hesed social welfare centers, and other JDC-supported institutions. During the last few years, AJT has taken on added significance for Ukrainian Jews, helping to connect and engage young people who have been displaced and impacted by the ongoing conflict.
