For 1,000 Israeli at-risk youngsters, the Jewish Agency for Israel’s four Youth Aliyah villages--Ramat Hadassah, Ben Yakir, Kiryat Yearim and Hadassah Neurim--are the only educational and social settings in which they can succeed and thrive. These villages provide youth with academic enrichment, psychological support and a safe place to live.

Many residents at the Youth Villages are newcomers to Israel, coming from countries of distress including Ethiopia and underdeveloped areas of the FSU. Difficulties they faced in their home environments have caused many of the villages’ students to suffer from low scholastic achievement as well as emotional and behavioral problems.

The villages provide a unique nurturing social and educational setting, where each child has an opportunity to overcome their educational and emotional problems and prepare for the next step in life, whether it is a regular high school, the army or living independently. Graduates of Youth Aliyah villages have proved the success of the program: integrating into Israeli society, demonstrating normative behavior, and completing academic degrees. The Jewish Agency has worked with its international and Israeli philanthropies to maintain investment in these villages at high levels, with spectacular results that contribute to strengthening Israeli society.

In the past year, the financial crisis has forced the Jewish Agency to cut back on some crucial aspects of its Youth Aliyah Village programming.  Staff has been reduced, drastically changing the ratio of staff to youth in the villages. Extracurricular activities, which are important to the therapeutic process, have been reduced. “Canceling these activities has had a very negative impact on the children. It has made it difficult to create a sense of belonging,“ said Michal Shtern, director of Ramat Hadassah Youth Village.

The lack of funding means that that Jewish Agency must turn away new applicants. Further budget cuts could potentially shut the doors of all Jewish Agency Youth Aliyah villages. More than 1,000 students would lose the supportive educational settings in which they now learn and live.

“Tailor-made activities and individual caring are the secrets to shaping capable adults and responsible civilians. We need to do all in our power to preserve this crucial program,” added Michal.