Developing an optimal model for operation of a youth village that leads its graduates towards social-economic mobility, taking into account the specific risk factors of this population.
Ofakim Initiative
High-risk youth living in youth villages face serious obstacles to social-economic mobility, among them: lack of basic skills, low scholastic achievements, and emotional and social difficulties. In addition, these youth villages suffer from is a high staff turnover and gaps in managerial capabilities that prevent them from designing and implementing mobility-oriented plans.
Based on a preliminary process that focused on identifying the specific challenges and needs of the youth villages, the Rashi Foundation entered into a joint initiative with JDC-Ashalim, IVN and the Ministry of Education’s Rural Education Branch. This is a pilot program to promote social mobility among the graduates of three villages by closing gaps between them and the mainstream population.
Individual solutions: developing and implementing unique mobility-oriented programs will be adapted to the special characteristics of each village and its youth. Examples of these programs are: a dropout prevention center, health program with an emphasis on substance abuse, etc.
Systemic solutions: guiding the villages in building strategic programs and translating them into work plans; directing the implementation through a data-based approach; and professional advancement of villages’ staff.
Altogether, the initiative aims to develop an optimal model with organizational and pedagogic tools for operation of a youth village that leads its graduates towards social-economic mobility, taking into account the risk factors of this population.
Partners
Government | Philanthropy
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