Providing social and educational interventions for youth at-risk
Youth Villages
The rise in the number of children and youth at-risk constitutes one of Israel’s most serious social problems. Tens of thousands of children have been removed from their homes because they are in imminent danger. Educational villages are saving youth at-risk and providing them with a normative, residential environment where they can receive the appropriate care in order to heal and flourish.
Youth Villages provide social and educational interventions that enable students to cope with integration difficulties, to break the cycle of poverty and to become contributing members of Israeli society. During their time at a Youth Village, students receive a full secondary school education, nutritional meals, a safe place to live, psychological and medical treatment and a warm, supportive environment. Youth Villages also work closely with students’ families and community support systems, with the aim of integrating the students back into their home communities.
Today, new immigrants from the FSU and Ethiopia account for more than 70% of the student population at Youth Villages. The rest are Israeli-born youth whose social integration has been unsuccessful thus far. Over 70% of Youth Village graduates complete their studies with a full or partial matriculation certificate and up to 95% are accepted to the Israel Defense Forces.
villages across Israel
alumni
improving the rates of matriculation and army enlistment for youth at-risk
Natalie’s parents were unreliable and abandoned her during her childhood. She eventually came to one of our Youth Villages. Her time in a Youth Village changed her life – she found a warm community, supportive staff and developed the skills to succeed after graduation. She went on to serve in the army and to give back by working with other youth at-risk.
