The expanded course on the Negev includes elements such as the relationship between the center and the periphery, employment and lack of employment opportunities, culture, sectarianism, Bedouins, education, development of the Negev, environment, the new army training city and more.

As the activists who initiated the course have a background in education and social change, the clearly stated goal of the course is to provide knowledge and to examine critically what is going on in the Negev, so that participants will be encouraged to get involve and to take the initiative.  Many of the lecturers, aside from being volunteers are also Negev residents and the organizers believe that interesting relationships and partnerships for change will be developed as the course progresses.

The second course deals with urban issues in Tel Aviv.  The course takes a critical look at issues facing Tel Aviv and the surrounding metropolitan area.  By examining decisions that Tel Aviv has faced in the past as well as possible solutions to current issues, the course hope to give participants an understanding of the complexity involved in urban issues such as transportation; is a subway or light rail feasible, will it solve parking problems, etc.  Other issues to be addressed include green space, involving the public in decision making, and what makes Tel Aviv so special and can other cities learn from the Tel Aviv experience.

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On Sunday August 2, 2009 The Israeli President, Mr. Shimon Peres, was hosted by residents of the new Student Village of Ayalim Association in the old city in Beer Sheva. “I came to gain some comfort from you” said the President to the Ayalim students. “The advantage of Ayalim is that it is a product of young people. All you have is an unlimited budget of enthusiasm – and I am proud of this enterprise”, he added.

The President was accompanied by the Mayor of Beer Sheva, Mr. Rubik Danilovich and the Director General of Rashi Foundation, Mr. Eli Elalouf. The three joined the students for an intimate discussion concerning leadership and the periphery. Mr. Peres shared his belief that Beer Sheva is on its’ way to become the new and modern version of Tel Aviv.

When asked about the role of young people in Israel today, the president replied that “the youngsters today must restore the moral consideration in Israel due to the weakening of values we are experiencing as a society” and invited the students not to stand from afar but to join the Israeli politics.

The evening was ended with the insertion of the Mezuzah at the entrance to the new student village, thus closing a circle after placing the corner stone of the first Ayalim village in 2003. The village in the old city of Beer Sheva was built with the support of the Jewish Agency, Keren Hayesod and the Canadian Israel Appeal (UIAC).