The intervention in Bat Yam started in 2005/6 and it is now in its 4th year. The program is designed to answer the needs of children and youth while building close cooperation between the education and welfare services.
Components
The Foundation's activity includes the following programs:
- Personal Education Program – 15,000 pupils in all age groups
- MILAT – 13 schools and 13 kindergartens with approximately1,050 children
- Tafnit – 900 pupils in elementary and junior high schools
- Merhav – intervention in an elementary school addressing education, health and welfare needs in the "Full School" model
- Eshkolot School for dropouts – 70 pupils
- Early Childhood Center serving 1,500 children and parents
- Extended school day for talented pupils – 160 children
- Migdalor – multi-purpose youth centers serving 1,250 teenagers
- Alma – center for girls in distress serving 12 teenage girls
- After-school centers serving 150 children
Personal Education Program
This innovative program started as a pilot in 3 schools and included now all the schools in town. The program addresses the individual needs of every child and his family in order to allow him to realize his full potential. Every pupil has a "personal tutor" who helps him to set his own educational and social goals and reach them.
Alma– home for girls in distress
Alma (young woman in Hebrew) is a unique community framework for girls aged 13-15 who attend school irregularly, suffering from emotional, physical or sexual abuse; some of them have a criminal record. The program provides emotional, social and educational support in an effort to allow the girls to reintegrate in formal education frameworks within a few months.
Early Childhood Center
The project includes physical renovation and intervention programs in family health centers (Tipat Halav), daycare centers and kindergartens, as well as guidance for parents and child-parent activities.
As part of the municipal program, professionals have been working in the last 3 years to identify children at risk and provide appropriate treatment. The new center has been completed and dedicated in the presence of the Prime Minister in January 2009
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