Youth Village Volunteers

JDC Israel is JDC Israel is collaborating with the Ministry of Education- The Administration for boarding and Residential care ,The Israeli Public Forum for Youth Villages spearheading Youth Village Volunteering, which introduces the value of volunteerism to students of Youth Villages. Volunteerism is a proven tool to foster social integration, more optimistic youth with higher self-esteem, and a sense of social responsibility. Volunteerism has also proven to decrease rates of risk behaviors such as drug use, violence, and criminal acts and to increase desires for higher academic and career aspirations. Given the prevalence of complex social and emotional issues within youth villages, it is critical that these at-risk youth in particular have an opportunity to benefit from volunteerism as a tool for self-empowerment.

Incorporating Volunteerism

• Local Youth Village Volunteer Coordinators who are specialty-trained and supervised on an ongoing basis over the 3 years with regular evaluation.
• Youth Volunteer Leaders (150) aged 13-18 years old comprising 15 young people at each pilot location to serve as peer-leaders working in concert with the coordinators to engage in volunteer opportunities within the youth villages themselves and within the wider community.
• Youth village resident volunteers across the seven pilot locations (200-300) aged 13 - 18 years old.
• Wider communities within the geographical neighborhood of villages, which are slated to benefit from volunteers who are well-trained and who are professionally supported and supervised on an ongoing basis.

Participating Youth Villages

The seven participating villages include: Alonei Yitzhak, Ayanot, Ben Shemen, Hadassim, Kfar Hasidim, Johanna Jabotinsky and Hadassah Neurim.