Youth Village Ventures
Providing Hands-On Entrepreneurial Experience for At-Risk Youth
Approximately 13% of children and youth in Israel are recognized by welfare services as “at-risk” – children living in vulnerable family or community situations. This may include, but is not limited to, youth engaging in risky behavior, having low educational achievements, or suffering from emotional or social distress[1]. Without effective intervention, these children and youth fall behind their peers in their academics, social skills and personal development.
JDC`s Youth Village Ventures program builds on the youth villages` 24/7 residential and agricultural framework to provide opportunities that encourage young residents to develop positive vital skills that contribute towards their paths towards adulthood and future economic stability. Youth Village Ventures was created utilizing JDC`s longstanding experience in entrepreneurship and employment education to develop on-the-job experiences for youth the villages. JDC Israel is collaborating with the Ministry of Education-The Administration for boarding and Residential care. This is especially important for these teens, most of whom lack sufficient family support and role models.
Youth village students, 9th to 11th graders take a business course including :
- Learn to launch a fully functioning business from start to finish
- Set up their business and gain hands-on experience
- Acquire valuable business and life skills in teamwork, problem solving, and negotiating
Locations: Six Youth Village are currently piloting:
- Kannot, near Gedera - a family activity and petting zoo
- Yemin Orde, near Tirat Hacarmel - an organic vegetable farm
- Ramat Hadassah, near Kiryat Tivon - therapeutic horse riding
- Zoharim, near Kiryat Gat - a sheep farm
- Atid Raziel, near Herzliya - sustainable urban agricultural farm
- Neve Hadassah, near Netanya - greenhouse for plant sales
[1] Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute (July 2017). Israel`s Children and Youth at Risk- Facts and Figures. http://brookdale.jdc.org.il/_Uploads/dbsAttachedFiles/MJB-Data-Snapshot-Children-at-Risk-2017-07-20(1).pdf