World
SPECIAL REPORT
Photo by Vivian Henoch
Young adults from Migdal HaEmek serve as Youth Futures trustees to children at risk.
Growing Partnership
Central Galilee's newest programs make a difference.
Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor
Editor's note: In mid-August, Keri Cohen
was in the Central Galilee, the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's
Partnership 2000 (P2K) region. She visited
two new programs having an impact there.
Youth Futures – Targeting
Youth At Risk
Migdal HaEmek, Israel
One out of every three children in Israel
younger than age 18 lives under the
poverty line. The incidence is greatest in
the Galilee region, where the disparity
increases continually.
To help these youth at risk, the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit made a
three-year commitment to a Youth Futures
program in Nazareth Ilit and Migdal
HaEmek that began last November. The
first year funding is $225,000.
The nationwide program, operated by
26 September 6 • 2007
the Jewish Agency for Israel, offers a com-
prehensive program featuring young adult
trustees who are trained to serve as men-
tors to individual children.
Unlike the other 25 programs in Israel,
at the insistence of the Detroit Federation,
trustees in the Central Galilee are profes-
sionals with academic degrees in their
fields. All are from the cities they serve — a
living example of "We made it, you can too:'
The trustees gathered to talk about their
work in Migdal HaEmek are a dedicated
group, who each manages 20 children.
They are hoping next year to work only
with 16.
"We are building a village around one
child because the trustee looks at all to
do with each child," said Reut Ben-Driam,
supervisor for the program.
Trustees deal with a budget voucher
for the child's needs and enrichment
— after-school activities that include art,
sports, dancing, singing, judo and more
— beyond what is provided by the city or
state. They meet as a group every Sunday
to talk about difficulties and to brainstorm
with other professionals in the trenches.
In Migdal HaEmek, 180 children in
grades 1-8 are involved with a dozen trust-
ees. The children have parents who are
unemployed or live in homes where there
may be violence, alcohol or drugs. Some
are orphans.
The mentors help the kids set goals,
make sure they attain diplomas, help them
learn social skills, and work to improve
their self-esteem and self-confidence.
"Success comes in small things',' said
Perach, a trustee. He tells of working with
two brothers. At the end of the year, their
mother said it's the first time she's seen a
smile from one son who is very average in
school. At the end of the year, he had his
diploma that cited his excellent grades.
His mom was not working and his
father was an alcoholic; he was very disap-
pointed in his life:' Perach said. "He was a
personal mission for me and it was hard
to enter his heart. The first time he suc-
ceeds is very important to him."
English – A Tool For Life
Jezreel Valley, Israel
In Israel, learning English is mandatory
starting in fourth grade. In the Central
Galilee, students were having trouble read-
ing and understanding English. Classes
had 35-40 students and there wasn't
enough personal attention.
"All over Israel, pupils get left behind;'
said Hilary Lavi, an English teacher and
counselor in the Central Galilee.
"Especially in our region because for
many English isn't a second language, but
a third;' added Dani Gilde, head of educa-
tion in Nazereth Ilit. "More than 50 per-
cent are Russian immigrants. It's hard to
learn so many languages in a short time.
"The textbooks and curriculum are excel-
lent — we need good teachers:' he said.
Enter a new English program, initiated
in large part by the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit. President Peter
Alter wanted a program that would have
an impact on the next generation and the