Youth Task Force Report
Orlando/Motzkin Partnership
Introduction
The youth task force is working hard to implement its long term plan for the partnership program. The plan was developed through direct meetings between David Brent and the Kiryat Motzkin Youth Task Force committee last October in Israel. The Orlando youth task force approved the plan last month. This plan represents an overall goal for the program and it is understood that no program may be implemented without prior approval of both steering committees.
In short, the long term plan takes full advantage of the potential of the internet to develop initial connections between the youth at no cost to the sister city program. The final goal is to encourage Orlando teens to travel to Israel and to sponsor Israel teens to travel to the United States.
Status of Internet Programs
The Hebrew Day School has developed an internet based forum to allow communication between its students and students in Kiryat Motzkin. There is already participation from the Hebrew Day School students and students at the TALI elementary school in Kiryat Motzkin.
Kiryat Motzkin’s Netanyahu Junior High School has developed an internet forum. The forum was published within the past week and is just getting started.
7th grade students at both Congregation Ohev Shalom and English students from Netanyahu Junior High School have begun teacher led direct e‐mails. About half of the students at Ohev are participating. The goal is to have all Orlando Synagogue 7th graders included by fall 2008.
The Beit Hamidrash joint study class with 8th and 9th graders in Kiryat Motzkin has not yet been implemented. This program will require approximately $5000 to support a part time teacher in Kiryat Motzkin. The goal is to start this program in the fall of 2008.
Status of Teen Trips
The Orlando teen trip to Israel this past summer (GOSIE ’07) was a tremendous success ‐‐ 26 teens had a life changing summer experience. There is already significant interest in GOSIE ’08 even though this program has not yet been approved and therefore marketed. We have formed an initial committee and are ready to start if we get approval from both steering committees. It is vital to get approval before the end of the year as many teens must commit to their summer plans soon. The cost of GOSIE ’08 to the sister city program would be approximately $10,000.
The Kiryat Motzkin teen visit to Orlando is presently ongoing but has received wonderful responses from the community to date. The Orlando community brought 14 teens and 2 chaperones from Kiryat Motzkin at a cost of $21,000 to the sister city program.