The Youth Futures Program in Merom HaGalil addresses the needs of 130 children ages 6-13 and 50 youth ages 14-18, with the help of the UJIA Britain. The Partnership Director for this region is Linda Futterman and the Program Coordinator is Dikla Nachmias. There are 12 Trustees working in Merom Hagalil, all have experience in working with special needs children..
The Trustees work around 15 hours a week. They meet the children once or twice a week and are now developing individual programs for each child. Most of the activities are focused on the children and the Trustees getting to know one another.
There are 60 youth from the region ages 14-17 who are enrolled in Branco Weiss programs at 2 schools. The teachers for this class will attend 2 seminars on how to teach for the individual, and social activities for the class, which is held once every other week. Three parent meetings have been planned for the beginning, middle, and end of the program, and individual meetings will be held regularly.
The Advisory Committee meets every month to month and a half. The most important decisions have focused on how the program should be run in the region – it was decided that 9 Trustees will work with 90 children in 2 schools: 7 will work in the Hemed National Religious School, 1 will work at the school in Rahania, and 1 in Ein El Assed, while the other Trustees will work in the communities of Alma, Dalton, Avivim, and Dovev.
The mayor of the local council is acquainted with the program and its importance and is willing to help when needed. The council is funding transportation for the children after the regular school day for participants in the program. The local education department and welfare department are a part of this committee and have provided total cooperation and are anxious to be part of the program.