Many in Israel believe that one must live in the center of the country to find a job, have a nice home and a high quality of life. At Eretz-Ir we are working to change that perception. We believe that in order for Israel to prosper, young adults and families must see cities in the periphery as a viable and desirable place to live, offering the dream of an affordable home, a strong community life, rich cultural events, and local involvement. Community: Supporting 21st Century Pioneers Eretz-Ir works to promote diverse community life in order to ensure long-term stay in peripheral cities and attract more young people. Residents in cities with actively involved communities report a higher life-satisfaction and are more likely to become involved in social change. Eretz-Ir guides 27 communities from all backgrounds, religions, and cultures, in 17 cities around the country. These groups of young pioneers maintain community life and develop social projects which benefit the entire city in a variety of the fields including of employment, education, culture, and more. Social Entrepreneurship: Developing the economy, while promoting social services for local populations Social entrepreneurship is a central part of a healthy community. It creates public participation as well as innovative solutions to the needs of the community. Eretz-Ir guides young social entrepreneurs, enabling them to develop a sustainable business model, and to create new jobs and social services for the benefit of local residents. To date, we have worked with 150 social entrepreneurs through individual and group mentoring, operated 7 accelerator programs for entrepreneurs throughout the country, and run a hub for entrepreneurs in Be’er Sheva.