The Youth Futures personal empowerment program for children and youth got underway on October 1, 2006. Orit Lin of Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek was selected for the position of town coordinator for the program inYokneam-Megiddo.
The goal of the program – The program focuses on developing and reinforcing the strong points of each child, out of the belief that strengthened skills also fortify self confidence and self-worth. By doing this we can reinforce experiences of success and competency at further levels in children's lives.
This is a three-year program which at this stage is intended for children in the 3rd and 4th grades. It is funded by the Jewish Federations of St. Louis and Atlanta. The children were selected by teachers/principals from Yokneam-Megiddo schools, who spotted children of high potential for advancement in different areas—studies, arts, technology, and others.
Seventy children were chosen from four Yokneam schools, and thirty selected from three Megiddo schools, for a total of one hundred children who participate in the program. "Trustees" are young people from the region who have concluded army/national service and have undergone training provided by the Jewish Agency for working with the children.
Each child participating in the program will be assigned a trustee, a young person who will serve as a coordinator between all of the bodies in the region connected with the child. The trustee will accompany the child in the selection and achievement of goals as well as in reinforcing motivation and self-esteem. Each trustee is responsible for a group of ten children and will meet with each child individually as well as with all ten children for group activity.
Individualized Work / Personal Empowerment – The idea is to encourage each child in his or her strong areas; this in order to enhance self-confidence, independence, and widen the child's social circle. The trustee will meet with the child for one hour once a week, sometimes at school during study hours and sometimes in the afternoon.
Group Work / Social Skills – The aim is for guided activity, as in youth movements, in various areas relevant to the world of children. Activities will be stimulating, enriching, and fun. Each trustee will meet the group under his or her responsibility once a week, after school, for three hours.
Currently a Youth Futures club is being prepared at the old Yokneam Community Center, where a portion of the group activities will be held. The Reut Center is being prepared for participating children from Megiddo. The Jewish Agency is the operator of Youth Futures in Israel; we are area number 17 in which the program is being run. The aim is for the program to cover 52 towns.
Meet the "Magnificent Six", the Youth Future Trustees of Yokneam-Megiddo:
Racheli Shabtai
Born in 1975 and a resident of Reut in the Megiddo region, Racheli holds a BA in criminology and sociology from Bar-Ilan University. She is currently studying animal therapy. Racheli worked for several years in education on Kibbutz Dalia, working with elementary school aged children. She will serve as trustee for ten children from Pelagim School in Megiddo. Racheli has really connected with the program and intends on bringing her dog with her to the various activities; she believes he will assist her and the children in the team-building process.
Sigal Tal
Born in 1975 and a resident of Moshav Eliakim in the Megiddo region. Sigal holds a bachelor's degree in management and philosophy from Haifa University. She acquired most of her professional experience working with formal and informal educational programs for children and youth at risk at Hadera Municipality. As she returned to Eliakim Sigal was looking for something for similar though different program. She addressed the municipality and and learned thee about Youth Futures. Already from her first steps with the program Sigal realized that this outreach is different from what she had previously known. Sigal will serve as a trustee for ten children from Omarim School and another 10 children from HaTikva schools in Megiddo.
Alina Chayut
Alina was born in 1980 and is a resident of Yokneam. She is studying towards her master's degree in criminology at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. During her studies, Alina was part of the Perach program; she has searched for something similar yet different from the program she had known. By chance she came upon a want ad appearing in a local paper in Yokneam. As far as Alina is concerned, Youth Futures is the ultimate informal education program for children, and she is very happy to be a part of it. Alina will serve as a trustee for two groups of ten children from Arazim School in Yokneam.
Tal Ben-Shabbat
Born in 1979 and a resident of Moshav Ein HaEmek in Megiddo Region, Tal concluded her bachelor's degree in human resources at Yizreel College. Tal has been working with children and youth for many years now.She has sought work with children and sees herself becoming part of educational systems in order to influence and contribute. Tal heard about the program from a friend. She will be a trustee for nine children from the Tidhar School and another nine children from Hadassim School in Yokneam.
Gilad Malka
Born in 1977 and a resident of Yokneam, Gilad is studying towards a master's degree in community mental health at Oranim College. Gilad volunteers in the Eran program and works with children as a private tutor; as if that weren't enough, he has also applied to be a full partner in Youth Futures. Gilad heard about the program from a friend and immediately made contact and became connected with Youth Futures. He will serve as a trustee for two groups of ten children from Hadasim School in Yokneam.
Oren Lerner
Oren was born in 1979, he is a resident of Kibbutz Dalia in Megiddo Region. Oren worked with children within different frameworks and studied alternative treatment. Oren heard about the program from Racheli Shabtai - another trustee. He considers the work on the program as a great challenge. Liron will be a trustee for 17 children from Oranim School in Yokneam.
