YOUTH FUTURES NEWS
Recent Highlights
Introduction - Paula Edelstein & Jane Sherman
Jerusalem
November 13, 2006
Dear Friends,
Investing in the future of Israeli society through support of "Youth Futures" is a very special application of a known concept. Investing now to reap dividends in the future is an accepted endeavor in the world of finance. Applying this concept to work with youth-at-risk in Israel is an exciting way of connecting Jews in Israel and those in Jewish communities around the world in a joint endeavor to ensure that youth in the periphery have an equal opportunity to develop educationally and socially.
When the idea was first presented as a potential focus of activity for the Jewish Agency for Israel as part of the JAFI Strategic Plan, the potential impact was only imagined. With enormous effort of the staff of the Israel Department and other professionals and lay leaders in Israel and abroad, the actual method of implementation has been developed over the two years to the extent that "Youth Futures" is no longer a pilot project but a well developed program that deals with children at risk from ages 6-18. Central to the operation of "Youth Futures" are the idealistic young adults who serve as trustees for the children and the three-way partnership between JAFI, Jewish communities and individual donors and Israeli donors.
The close cooperation between the overseas and Israeli partners is a vital component of the "Youth Futures" program, and is the starting point for expanding this partnership to include non profit organizations in Israel, the local and national authorities, schools, communities and participants' families. This exciting cooperation, with its comprehensive approach, will serve as the basis for future progress in our program.
We know that you will enjoy reading about "Youth Futures" in this newsletter and look forward to your comments and suggestions.
May we go from strength to strength for the sake of the Israeli society and the Jewish People!
Sincerely,
Paula Edelstein and Jane Sherman, Co-Chairs
Jewish Agency for Israel - Israel Committee
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The Youth Futures Program Coordinator
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Administrative management of the entire program in the region
Management of the Trustee groups - reports, contracts, salary, operation of children's vouchers
Operational responsibility - high school programs
Operational responsibility - Circles of Opportunity
Development of local support - political, financial and volunteers
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Spotlight on Coordinators
YF Updates
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YF Staff: The Youth Futures Division
(see Organizational Structure - Powerpoint) is finally complete - Merav Marciano-Levy and Ahuva Lipman, two JAFI social workers and highly experienced in working with new Olim and children, will monitor the Trustees' work with their children, and will give them constant support and counseling. They will also be highly involved in building the Trustees' training program. We've also recruited a Trustee Director, Shai Lazer, who will be responsible for every aspect in the Trustees' work and in building the various groups into strong young communities all over the country.
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Training Program: The Trustees' training program is being built on a 3-year model, and will include coaching sessions and training, workshops for building work plans for the children and for the Trustees themselves, sessions on children at-risk and working with their families, etc.
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YF Localities: We have added 7 localities to the Youth Futures program, to reach 18 during 2006. These localities have trained over 100 Trustees, and are treating over 3,000 youngsters through Youth Futures. We expect to add an additional 13 next year, and gradually add an average of 7 localities annually, to reach a total of 52 localities in 2010. The localities will be selected mostly from the Negev and the Galilee, but also from Israel's social - not only geographical - periphery. Furthermore, we have already prepared ourselves for working with children from minority sectors, such as Arab (both Christian and Muslim), Druze, Bedouin and Circassian sectors. We are preparing the ground for work in Netivot-Sedot Negev, Yerucham and Acre-Mate Asher, and have already built up a wonderful team of Trustees and their Coordinators in Nazareth Ilit and Migdal HaEmek-Emek Izrael. The progress that has been made in this region is impressive, and a list of Youth Futures children and teens has been submitted for teaming up with Trustees.
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Evaluation: We have received various suggested work plans from different evaluating experts, and after giving the issue proper consideration, the evaluator for the Youth Futures program will be the Ben Gurion University's Center for Educational Enhancement. The planning process is scheduled to begin in November 2006, and it will begin to be implemented in January 2007. See Evaluation and Measurement of Youth Futures Program
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2nd Edition
In This Issue…
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