Service learning and empowerment project for youths.
An educational and empowering project designed to instill values of volunteerism and community service among youth of lower socio-economic backgrounds. 2,000 students between the ages of 12-16 participate in the project in 70 educational institutions (schools and boarding schools) in 50 communities nationwide. During the project, students are acquainted with the world of humanitarian aid and are introduced to community activities. At the conclusion of the project, the participants initiate and launch aid-projects in their own communities. Groups are led by 250 LATET volunteers that donate 40,000 counseling hours a year. The three-year long project is designed to train the graduates to leadership roles in their communities and the society as a whole.
First Year
The participants undergo three stages, which comprise a comprehensive educational process:
1. Guidance and Exposure
8 two-hour sessions, once a week – Total duration: two months:
A. Guidance – Sessions that introduce the participants to terminology taken from the field of humanitarian activities, belonging, values of social involvement and the Israeli society. The sessions include experiential discussions and activities on a variety of different topics.
B. Exposure – The participants are exposed to activities conducted in humanitarian centers operating within the local community. The activity includes a tour of the area, together with the institution manager and an experiential activity together with the local population.
2. Initiative
8 two-hour sessions, once a week – Total duration: two months:
A. “The Community and I” – The participants identify a certain social need in their community, devise a practical voluntary project and formulate an action plan. The participants comprise an independent team that is counseled and supported by the team counselor.
B. “Israeli Society and I” – Participants actively take part in the national food drive conducted by Latet.
3. Final Stage: “An End is always a Beginning”
4 two-hour sessions, once a week – Total duration: One month:
A. Introducing the group venture in a school exhibition.
B. Summary, feedback and project conclusions.
C. Final event and awards ceremony.
D. Selecting a “next step” in volunteering.
Second Year – “I am for You” - Future Path
At the Group – Community Level:
The group promotes a social community initiative
The group works to promote the initiative, activating the schools and the community.
At the National Level:
A National Leadership group whose role is to lead the initiative at the national level.
The Youth Council will set objectives, goals and methods to promote the initiative at the national level.
The national initiative will be shared by all the participating groups in Israel.
Development of counseling skills
At all stages of the project counseling methods and materials will be introduced, in order to train participants as CITs (Councilors In Training).
Graduates of the second program year will be prepared to serve as young leaders within the school system and the community at large or in the role of CITs for “I am For You” youth groups working side by side with experienced youth workers.
Young Leadership Seminar will take place during the summer – This seminar aims at training participants to be leaders and CITs.
Third Year – “I am for You” – Leadership year
The activities take place on two levels:
1. Counseling Level – the CITs will guide first year participants. Each Couple of counselors will receive a group, and guide it throughout the year, working side by side with an experienced youth worker.
2. Coordination Level – the young coordinators will lead the initiative in the schools and the community. Each coordinator will set objectives, promoting initiatives within the community, activating the schools and the community, working side by side with the school’s volunteer coordinator and an experienced councilor.
Latet for Passover 2010
