| During the IBMA 2024 conference, there was a session where I presented the Kibbutz model and concept for developing countries. I did it because it gave me a unique opportunity to present it to tens of African students, professors, business people, and government officials. If this Model is to be applied in Africa, I must begin by hearing as many opinions and genuine feedback as possible. There is nowhere better than presenting it before those who know the "on-the-ground reality" and have nothing to gain or lose by expressing their profound thoughts. Above all, I wanted to understand the fears they may have from an unknown rural community model. To my great surprise, the Kibbutz concept generated a lot of enthusiasm and openness to hearing, investigating, and even accepting such a novel model that may offer a path out of smallholders’ poverty. The following is my perspective on remarks, questions, and statements about implementing the Kibbutz concept in developing economies. It will be great to get your insights and comments on the following. THE KIBBUTZ IS A FAILURE!? When I share my thoughts about the modified Kibbutz concept for rural communities in developing countries with Israelis, they often tell me, “But the Kibbutz is a failure; look how much they have changed from what they were. Are they even a “Kibbutz” anymore?” As a person who grew up in “a real Kibbutz," I believe people often confuse what they view in their "romantic" mind as a Kibbutz with what it is all about. THE TRIGGER OF THE KIBBUTZ MODEL Sure, a Kibbutz model 2024 (and many such models) differs from Kibbutz models 1910, 1950, 1980, etc. The ability to change and adapt to evolving conditions signifies a flexible, vibrant community. Isn’t it a prerequisite for any community model we wish to apply? To my Israeli friends, allow me to state that a Kibbutz was never measured or considered “a Kibbutz” based on having shared accommodation for children and a shared dining room. The Kibbutz concept was triggered and born by Jewish farmers, subjects of the Ottoman Empire, who lived in villages and suffered poverty. Despite receiving plenty of support with technologies, experts (knowledge), infrastructure, finance, and training, they suffered poverty. PRINCIPLES AND GOALS The Kibbutz principle pillars were self-management, cooperation, and equality. Remember, the Kibbutz is designed to overcome economic and practical challenges pre-Israeli farmers faced 114 years ago. Therefore, Kibbutz is a business and a lifestyle. How many businesses do you know that have survived over 100 years? Each Kibbutz is a business platform with many separate and different “business units” called branches. Like any business, the Kibbutz platform and its "business units" make mistakes. Do you know of companies that do not make mistakes? However catastrophic those mistakes were, all Kibbutz communities stand firm, and none of their members live in poverty. NOT LIMITED TO AGRICULTURE Another point many Israelis fail to see is the association of the Kibbutz with agriculture, as if there couldn't be a Kibbutz without agriculture. When I was born, the Kibbutz's primary income source was agriculture; nowadays, less than 20% of Kibbutz members are involved in agriculture. Furthermore, some Kibbutzim have zero agriculture. For example, one of my brothers lives on a Kibbutz with no land or agriculture, as it is located in a city! Yet, it is a Kibbutz and a prosperous one too. RESILIENCY AND FLEXIBILITY Let’s ask ourselves again, “Is the Kibbutz a success?” The Kibbutz lifestyle concept survived the Ottoman and British empires and numerous Israeli governments, including those hostile to its existence and values. Most Kibbutz communities were established in unfavorable environments, such as along borders, deserts, and malaria-infested areas, yet survived and thrived. In the early days, most Kibbutz members, like my mother, had little agricultural knowledge and experience before establishing the Kibbutz. Many Kibbutzim (like my Kibbutz) were established by Holocaust survivors who spent their high school period escaping the Nazis, had no family to support them financially, and Hebrew, the language spoken in Israel, was not their mother tang. Technologies and agro knowledge developed extensively in the past 100 years, but the Kibbutz reached its peak success and national impact far before the “age of technologies”. Flexibility is good and required for survival and continued prosperity, and the Kibbutz concept proved to have it. A CLEAR TURNING POINT Before the Kibbutz, from 1850 to 1910, the pre-Israeli farmers lived in poverty. The agro sector was impoverished, with very little and slow economic development. At that time, Israeli agriculture was not a global pride or any better than farming in nearby geographic territories. However, starting from 1910, after the establishment of the first Kibbutz, i.e., Dgania, hundreds of new rural communities, all in its image and based on the same principles, popped up everywhere. From 1910 until today, not one family or individual has suffered poverty or hunger in Kibbutz communities. The Kibbutz members and their children can access all universities, professions, job levels, and leadership opportunities in Israel. Thanks to the Kibbutz movement, Israeli agriculture is considered a global leader, and its advancement and productivity need no PR. Ultimately, the goal is not the business or community/social model but having a model that elevates people from poverty and helps them achieve their full potential. Oh, and although the Kibbutz population is only 2% of that of Israel’s 10 million population, and less than 20% of its population works in agriculture, the Kibbutz movement is responsible for the production of 40% of Israel's agro production (Israel suffers no shortage of food), and 10% of Israel's industrial exports (excluding diamonds and high-tech). As if more is needed, many Kibbutz members find their livelihoods outside the Kibbutz in tourism, governmental, and business-oriented organizations. When we compare Israeli rural communities to those in other countries and remember that the Kibbutz concept emerged 114 years ago out of an ecosystem less developed than most developing countries today (i.e., the Ottoman Empire), we can confidently say that the kibbutz model can successfully bring prosperity to its members, even under the harsher environment. Would you invest in a community model that shifts 100% of its impoverished members to become part of the middle class? IS THE KIBBUTZ A COOPERATIVE? A cooperative (also known as cooperative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-controlled enterprise". Cooperatives are democratically controlled by their members, with each member having one vote in electing the board of directors (Wikipedia). In his email to me (below), Desire says that cooperatives have ”changed the life of members”, yet "the effect of it on the transformation of the country is not huge", i.e., it is small. Many people confuse cooperatives with Kibbutz because, in both cases, we have a democratic, voluntary association that aims at improving its members' economic state. | 
