The Initiative to Promote Technical Education in Youth Villages a Summary
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The Initiative to Promote Technical Education in Youth Villages A Summary In partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Rural Education Administration, and philanthropic foundations June 2020 Contents Ý Opening Remarks 3 Ý Closing the Initiative 20 Ý Overview 5 Ý Initiative Summary 21 Ý The Need 7 Ý GANTT for the Initiative 21 Ý The vision 9 Ý Main successes 22 Ý Overall Goals 9 Ý Summary of the Initiative in the Youth Villages 23 Ý Working assumptions 10 Ý Financial Summary 34 Ý Activities 11 Ý Balance of 247,120 NIS. 34 Ý Results 12 Ý Thank you(s) and Summary 36 Ý Methodology 13 Ý Appendixes 38 Ý Intervention Models 13 Ý Core Components of the Work Plan 14 Ý What does the student receive in the continuum model? 14 Ý Initiative Content 15 Ý Uniqueness of the Initiative 15 Ý Initiative Management Routines 16 Ý Reports 16 Ý Budget Principles 16 Ý Work Interfaces 17 Opening Remarks Yoav Bar Sela (Colonel, Res.), Program Director After 28 years of service in the air force, I which are often ones of difficulty and crisis. I want to thank our partners in the Ministry of decided to dedicate the second chapter in my In addition, the Initiative developed in a man- Education – in the Rural Education Administra- professional life to social action. I chose to be a ner that strengthened the village infrastruc- tion and the Science and Technology Adminis- partner in entrepreneurship and investment in ture for technical education, positioning and tration, our philanthropic partners who were civil society. Over the last 5 years, in partner- strengthening the technical education tracks involved and influenced the program. Among ship with the stakeholders, we have developed in the schools, advancing the integration of them, I would like to give particular mention to and implemented the concept of an educa- management tools by the school staff, increas- Atar Razy-Oren, CEO of the Beyachad Foun- tional continuum for at-risk youth, students ing academic success among participants and dation, for her partnership and leadership in youth villages, who are defined as “on the enhancing the professional development of the throughout the Initiative and as chairperson at-risk continuum”. Our aspiration is to provide educational staff. of the Initiative during the last six months an appropriate solution for these young people through its closing. An additional action model of the Initiative was between the ages of 15-25. the formation of an excellence and leader- I would also like to take this opportunity to Technical education in Israel, and particularly in ship group among junior high school students. thank Avi Elbaz, former CEO of the Youth youth villages, is a central axis in the contin- Named, “Arrow to the North”, by the Kfar Villages for Advancement and Excellence, who uum concept. It allows each student to choose Silver Youth Village, the model focused on recruited me for this important program, to a channel for significant development towards empowerment and excellence among junior high Tali Zaka’el Peer who replaced him, Adi Zagorski adult life—from school and the acquisition of a school students, building young leadership, and for his professional assistance and partnership, meaningful qualification, through military ser- realizing their technical potential. and of course my right hand man, Idan Barkai, vice in a needed profession, stable employment for his partnership and assistance whenever it As can be seen from the data presented below, and professional career development in the was needed. there have been admirable achievements in technical job market. the participating villages during our two years I sincerely hope that the tools and interven- The Initiative to Promote Technical Education in of operation. The clear message that emerged tions that we have built and implemented will Youth Villages provides a complete solution for during our summary meetings with the village help many more students to succeed and to these young women and men, exposing them directors and school principals is that they participate in and enjoy meaningful activities as to the technical world, strengthening their intend to continue to operate some of the mature, contributing and exceptional adults. knowledge in relevant professions, empow- Initiative’s activities in the coming years. This ering them and supporting them during their constitutes a badge of honor and appreciation transition points along the continuum; points of the Initiative. 3 Atar Razy-Oren, CEO Beyachad – The Stella and Yoel Carasso Family Foundation, Chairperson of the Initiative Steering Committee Our starting point was our commitment to the The Initiative for Technical Education made it rizes its path, knowledge, insights, and conclu- students in youth villages. We knew that with possible to create an exceptional partnership sions. I am sure that we will not be the last to proper mentoring, even the sky was not the between leading figures in the Ministry of walk this path. Those who follow us are invited limit for them. We saw technical education, Education, philanthropy, the military, relevant to use all the information contained herein. the peak of which was awarding a practical social organizations and of course the youth I will end by offering my thanks to all of our engineering degree, as a significant vehicle for villages. Thanks to the commitment and faith wonderful partners, at home and abroad. Your socio-economic mobility. Furthermore, it was placed in us by the village directors, school passion and commitment have made this ven- clear that a technical education imparts vital principals, coordinators, staff of the Youth ture an asset, one that it is so difficult for all life skills such as research, planning, teamwork, Villages for Excellence and Advancement and of us to part from right now, before it had a entrepreneurship, creativity and more. the other partners, we were able to meet the chance to realize its full potential. objectives we set for ourselves in a short period The breakthrough in this project is reflected of two years. in the concept of the continuum model that offers mentoring of the student from high The Initiative ended before its full potential was school through practical engineering studies, to realized, but many practical insights and knowl- military service and civilian employment. edge were gained from it. This paper summa- 4 Overview One of the cornerstones for the growth and development of a youth four villages (out of the six villages that participated in the preliminary village student is the building of an educational continuum that will assessment process). It was further agreed that in the future this model support the village graduate throughout his or her life, including military would constitute the Ministry’s optimal model for other youth villages in service and finding employment. Israel. In recent years, technical education has been going through a process of The representatives of the philanthropic partnership were: World ORT renewal and has focused on the goal of ensuring that graduates of the Kadima Mada, the Beyachad Foundation, The Rosalinde and Arthur educational system complete their education with a “toolbox” that will Gilbert Foundation, the Daniel Judisman Foundation, and the Tzurim allow them to integrate and succeed in life. Foundation. Youth villages serve as a platform for combining science and technical The Initiative was originally managed by the Public Forum, and after a studies with the understanding that this track supports a continuous year moved to the management and leadership of Youth Villages for process through the military, higher education, and the job market. Advancement and Excellence Ltd. (a company for the benefit of the public, PBO), which is experienced in the world of youth villages, and In 2016, the Public Forum for Youth Villages decided to act to promote particularly in the villages chosen for the project. At the end of 2019, technical education in youth villages and began to formulate a quality Youth Villages for Advancement and Excellence was disbanded and initiative, whose peak would be a practical engineering degree, as a the leadership of the project, with regard to the philanthropists, was complementary channel to theoretical matriculation studies. In 2017, the assumed by the CEO of the Beyachad Foundation, with the goal of Ministry of Education made a strategic decision to develop the technical finding a new body to lead the project in the coming years, along with education system in youth villages at a cost of 20 million NIS per year additional philanthropic partners. Despite the efforts, which lasted for three years. In this context, it was decided that in parallel to the several months, a new home for the Initiative was not found and it was Ministry’s program, the philanthropic partnership (in the context of closed at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, in June 2020. the Public Forum) would develop a systematic model for accessing and developing technical education as an experimental program (pilot) in 5 Background on Youth Villages for Advancement and Excellence Ltd. (PBO) – Initiative Operator The Naor Foundation, founded by Israeli philanthropist and Israel Prize winner Mr. Avi Naor, set as its mission to work to advance children and youth at risk through deep and long-term commitment to youth villag- es, in partnership with leading philanthropists from Israel and around the world. Over the years, the Foundation founded a company for the benefit of the public: Youth Villages for Advancement and Excellence Ltd., whose goal was to advance the vision of the Naor Foundation in youth villag- es. In recent years, the PBO operated a number of programs, including the Tormim La’kfar Initiative, renovation initiatives in youth villages and welfare boarding programs, and the Initiative to Promote Technical Edu- cation in Youth Villages.