Once, when the Givatron (iconic Israeli folk singer group) topped the music charts and the cafeterias were constantly full, the volunteers from abroad were the hottest trend on the kibbutz. They came to sweat in the fields, the chicken coops and through the harvest, while leaving behind endless stories that every kibbutz member who respects himself can tell in his sleep. Now the kibbutz movement has decided to make some room in the clubhouse – and bring back the volunteers.

Ideology Negev kibbutz promises return to collective Zionist ideals Ilana Curiel Small kibbutz near Gaza and Egypt is home to some 60 people who are trying to recruit new members into their ranks. While they promise collective lifestyle 'like good old days,' valuable incentives also offered to those who decide to make home there Negev kibbutz promises return to collective Zionist ideals

The new campaign , which will receive support from Israel's embassies in Europe in honor of the 100-year celebrations for the kibbutz movement, will try and reconnect with past volunteers and bring them to Israel for a huge reunion planned for next year.

Since the Six-Day War, 350,000 volunteers from 35 different countries took part in the kibbutz volunteer program. The countries who sent the most volunteers were England (50,000), South Africa (40,000), Sweden (25,000), Denmark (20,000) and Germany (15,000). The late 1960s and early 1970s, euphoric days in post- Six Day War Israel saw record numbers arriving on the kibbutz, 12,000 every year.

But as years went by, the phenomenon slowly faded away until it almost disappeared completely during the second intifada – in 2001 only 100 volunteers arrived on Israel's shores.

The volunteers come to Israel for a period of three to six months, and work in different fields and branches on the kibbutz. In return, they receive an allowance, room and board, sightseeing tours and social activities. As a result of the crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, the kibbutzim decided that employing volunteers isn't worthwhile and most kibbutzim put an end to their volunteer programs.

Many kibbutzim decided stop bringing in volunteers when they reached the conclusion that volunteers brought an atmosphere of sex drugs and alcohol along with them.

Facebook campaign seeks past volunteers

The past few years have seen a slight recovery in the area – and the volunteers are slowly heading back to the kibbutzim. While most volunteers used to be from European countries, today, most volunteers come from places like Columbia, Venezuela, Chile, India, Brazil, Uruguay, Japan and South Korea. Yet it is still possible to find some volunteers from Sweden, Norway and Germany. 1200 volunteers are in Israel at the moment.

A new facebook campaign called 'Kibbutz Volunteers' will be uploading thousands of pictures from the kibbutz archives and personal albums of past volunteers. The goal is for past volunteers recognize themselves in the pictures and join the group.

Israel's embassies in Europe have been asked to assist in locating old volunteers, over the next few months, 'Kibbutz Week' will be held throughout Europe's capitals, and allow past volunteers to watch exhibitions, art shows and listen to the music of the kibbutz. The campaign will include ads in the local European media and internet sites, calling on volunteers from the past to reconnect.

The kibbutz movement noted that many volunteers from the past showed great interest in Israeli current events, some even try to find information about friends from their volunteer days through kibbutz websites. "They are very interested in the project", says kibbutz movement spokesperson Aviv Leshem.

"They ask if this member is still alive and if that member still works in the dairy-farm or kibbutz disco". Surveys taken by the movement revealed that 90 percent of past volunteers reported of the positive experience they had in Israel as volunteers.

'Those were the days of their youth'

Organizers of the huge reunion bash set for next year are planning on taking the veteran volunteers back to the kibbutz of their youth and to include sightseeing tours throughout Israel. "We know that the volunteers are very excited about coming back to Israel", the kibbutz movement stated.

"Those were the days of their youth; they remember the virginal, righteous Israel. For example, 20 percent of Denmark's parliament members were kibbutz volunteers or married to former volunteers. We are now receiving a third generation of volunteers, a generation following in their grandparents and parents footsteps."

Meanwhile, the kibbutz movement has also contacted foreign travel agencies and student unions in an attempt to bring s new wave of volunteers to Israel. Campaign organizers hope that reconnecting with past volunteers will cause them to send their children and acquaintances to volunteer.

These days only 30 kibbutzim accept volunteers as opposed to 100 kibbutzim of the past, and the kibbutz movement is working to convince additional kibbutzim to take on volunteers. At the moment, the kibbutz movement has to reject requests from foreign volunteers due to lack of participating kibbutzim. "We've already had a situation where volunteers arrived in Israel and were forced to wait in youth hostels for weeks before we found a place for them" admits Leshem.

All new volunteers arriving in Israel are invited to a seminar held at Givaat Haviva where they learn about the Israeli narrative, the holocaust, the first settlements and take tours in Jewish and Arab cities.