TAU’s Buddy Program: Building Cross-Cultural Bonds and Community

Studying abroad can appear daunting, especially if you have never been to the country or don’t know the local language. This is where student buddies come in—they help international students find their bearings in the new surroundings.

The Buddy Program, run jointly by the Lowy International School and the TAU Student Union, is part of a comprehensive support system built to ensure that every international student coming to TAU feels part of a nurturing community. It is also a crucial building block of the Lowy International School's extensive internationalization-at-home initiatives, aimed at creating a multicultural campus environment by fostering interactions between local and international students. The program has grown significantly over the past two years.

All buddies are TAU’s Israeli students, typically undergraduates, who speak English well and are ready to share Israeli culture and lifestyle with their international peers. Incoming international students are matched with Israeli volunteers before arriving in Israel and are able to ask any questions regarding student life on campus or life in Israel.

Galia Netzer-Erlichmen, Head of Internationalization at Home at the Lowy International School, who oversees the Buddy Program, emphasizes the program's crucial role in transforming TAU into a truly international university:

"It's beneficial not only for international students but also for Israelis who get to expand their horizons through interacting with many different cultures."—Galia Netzer-Erlichmen, Head of Internationalization at Home at the Lowy International School

International students with their TAU buddies

Noga Shinar, the Buddy Program manager at Tel Aviv University, emphasizes the vital role of the program in helping international students feel at home. Having experienced the benefits of a buddy system herself during a student exchange, she understands the importance of having someone "who's roughly your age, who knows what you're talking about, who's able to answer all kinds of simple questions." 

"It really helps you settle in and adapt."—Noga Shinar, the Buddy Program coordinator

Noga highlights that successful pairings often involve shared interests, such as studying the same language or subject. She also noted the value of informal activities, saying, "People can chat comfortably and freely while also doing some sort of craft or playing a game," which helped students connect naturally. 

"The Israeli students love explaining the meaning of the holidays, and the foreign students love listening and learning something new they previously did not know."—Noga Shinar

Some buddies and volunteers establish strong connections that extend beyond the planned activities, including personal meetups with Israeli families, participation in daily Israeli events, and more. These tight bonds often enable both parties to maintain their cross-cultural relationships for many years.

Spring Party at the Lowy International's Green House

Chen Rujing, an exchange student from mainland China, looks back fondly on her time with her buddy, Raz Shaham: "Raz invited me to celebrate Passover and Shavuot with her family, and these were fabulous opportunities for me to dive into Israeli culture." 

"I also greatly appreciated that Raz hosted different types of parties for me during my last days in Israel, making it extremely difficult to say goodbye to my amazing friends and this wonderful country."—Chen Rujing, an exchange student

Shaham reflects on her experience: "I first heard about the program a year ago and was drawn to the idea of connecting with international students. I'm passionate about languages, so I saw the buddies program as a great opportunity. Initially, I was paired with two buddies from Asia. We met briefly before the events of October 7th, after which they returned home. When the semester resumed, I rejoined the program and connected with more buddies, forming a close-knit group." 

Raz Shaham with Chen Rujing

"We exchanged cultural experiences—one night, they taught us to make Chinese dumplings, and another time, my grandmother shared traditional Iraqi recipes."—Raz Shaham, TAU student buddy

She also helped her buddies navigate life in Israel, offering advice and information:

"My buddies often asked about the situation in Israel, especially during the difficult times. I reassured them and helped understand local customs, language, and culture. When they asked about places to visit, I recommended my local favorites like shawarma spots, hummus places, and even gave tips for their trips to Jerusalem."

International students with buddies

Ben Vaknin, another TAU student buddy, shares his motivation for joining the program: "I volunteered to become a buddy for a few reasons. As it is my first year in the university, I didn't know too many people at the start of the year, and I thought that the program would help me socially. I study political science in order to pursue a career in diplomacy, so signing up for this program was pretty natural for me.”

"I met so many amazing people, both Israeli and international students."—Ben Vaknin, TAU student buddy 

Ben also highlighted the personal connections he made, saying, "The activities I enjoyed the most were the times I met with my buddies, Jan from the Czech Republic and Anatole from France, alone, and we had great conversations about just how different we are and how different our cultures are, which is odd because we all got along so well."

July 4th party at the Green House

Daria Ovchinikov, who has been overseeing the student buddy program from the TAU Student Union's side, notes the growing interest in the program and its potential for expansion.

"What makes it special are the people who really want this connection. They want to know more and be really involved in whatever is happening on campus or in Tel Aviv in general." —Daria Ovchinikov, TAU Student Union

Ovchinikov adds that all the events throughout the year proved extremely popular with international students, who ‘were the first to come and the last to leave and who really enjoyed the atmosphere.”

TAU student volunteers are recruited annually through the Student Union, and their hard work is recognized by the Lowy International School at a special ceremony held at the end of the academic year.

Maureen Adiri Meyer, Director of the Lowy International School (standing left), Galia Netzer-Erlichmen, Head of the Internationalization at Home (standing second from right), and Sharon Ziv Kafri, Director of International Development (standing right), with TAU student volunteers who acted as buddies during the 2023/24 academic year.

If you are coming to Tel Aviv to study for a degree or do a study abroad program, fill in the form to be matched with an Israeli buddy who may well become your new best friend!

Photos courtesy of the TAU Student Union and Galia Netzer Erlichmen