Liora, Yasmin, Arye, Oren, Racheli, Reut and a few others are all mentors in the Youth Futures program in the Beit Shean Region, and all of these mentors live in the region - 10 live in Beit Shean and the rest live in the surrounding Kibbutzim and Moshavim.

In a meeting with Bill Heller, the Partnership 2000 Co-Chair from Cleveland, the mentors introduced themselves and explained their reasons for taking part in the program. The story of Oren Miyara (23) from Beit Shean was especially moving: "I was born and raised in Beit Shean. When I completed High School, I joined the academic reserve through the Atidim program and after one and a half years I decided that it was not destined for me. I left the academic reserve and continued in the standard army service as a fighter in the Golani brigade."

The Cleveland House (the home of Partnership 2000 in Beit Shean) has been a home for me. I grew up being part of "Noar L'noar" - a youth group from Partnership 2000. Later on, I participated in the Ambassadors for Unity mission from Beit Shean to Cleveland where I learned about the Cleveland community. There's no doubt that my experience at Partnership 2000 has made an impact on my life. Today, I'm a student studying Information Systems at the Jordan Valley College and I'm delighted about the opportunity I have to make a significant change and impact on the future of children's lives in Beit Shean. Thank you Cleveland for taking part in the Youth Futures program.

"I didn't know what to expect at the meeting with you," said Bill Heller to the mentors. "During the first stages when the Jewish Agency presented the Youth Futures program, we had many questions regarding the mentors in the program - how they would be recruited, screened and trained." "I must say that I'm surprised," said Bill, "I wasn't sure there would be enough appropriate people for the program. The fact that you are here and were chosen from a larger group means a lot about the young adults in Israel and especially in the Beit Shean Region."

"Nevertheless," Bill emphasized, "you should know that much is resting on your shoulders. Although Cleveland is a relatively small community, it's considered in many aspects an important and leading community on the national level for many programs. When the Jewish Agency turned to us in order to partner with the program, we decided not to be the first ones, but the best ones. I know you will succeed and I expect you all to be national role models for the Youth Futures program in Israel."