Shatil ("seedling" in Hebrew) was established by the New Israel Fund in 1982 to strengthen civil society in Israel. Since then, Shatil has grown into the primary agent for social change in Israel, promoting a society based on social, economic and environmental justice, human and civil rights and cultural and religious pluralism. We advance this vision by empowering organizations, initiating social change projects and influencing policy on our own and in partnership with like-minded civil society organizations, public institutions, businesses, the media, academia and the arts. We empower disadvantaged communities to improve their lives by effecting long-term social change. We reach out to constituencies on the economic and geographic periphery, maximizing their strength by cultivating new leadership and skills and by initiating and facilitating strategic coalitions. Shatil's unique role is to influence processes and policies by bringing together and strengthening all who share the vision of a just and equitable society. Shatil's' work strengthens Israel's democracy by increasing citizen involvement in the processes of government and the quest for equality and social justice.