A New Tomorrow includes 5 components:
Programs will be implemented in schools or community centers, immediately following the structured formal school day. This time schedule ensures that participants (often from financially challenged families) receive a nutritious lunch through the government “hot meal program”, eliminates the necessity for and cost of transportation and gives parents additional hours to organize their lives while children are at school until 5PM or 6PM.
Program implementation will utilize the network of partnerships developed for Youth Futures and through implementation of Jewish Agency safe summer camps including: local community centers (matnassim), youth movement volunteers and other professional operators. The Jewish Agency networking and expertise will enable us to begin program implementation quickly and efficiently. By working with schools and partner NGOs that provide informal educational programming, we are increasing the number of children throughout the north that can participate in critical enrichment programs that parents can no longer afford.
The specific program for each community will be custom designed to answer its specific needs. A steering committee of professionals from the following organizations will ensure that the program meets uncovered community needs: Jewish Agency for Israel, Israeli Ministry of Education, local municipality representatives from the departments of education (formal and informal) and social welfare, and representatives of additional organizations when appropriate for the specific community.
An overall steering committee will coordinate and ensure that there is no duplication or overlapping of resources. This committee will consist of professionals from: Jewish Agency for Israel, Israeli Ministry of Education, and the Joint Distribution Committee.
The Israeli Ministry of Education recently requested funding to implement, in northern Israel, an extended school day program in which young children will be provided with a hot meal and extra curriculum activities. A New Tomorrow will compliment these activities ensuring that the combined efforts of all parties will result in fortifying northern Israel’s youth and ensuring their ability to emerge from this crisis empowered.
By utilizing the Jewish Agency for Israel’s infrastructure of partnerships, including the option of partnerships with Jewish communities from around the world, A New Tomorrow will leverage its impact by serving as a unifying force while fortifying local service providers in the fields of education and social/cultural enrichment, thus serving as a trigger in empowering communities that are now struggling to rebuild communal life.
Outline of Weekly Timeline
Programs will be conducted for four hours daily, four days a week in schools where formal classes are over at 1PM, and for three hours, four days a week in the few schools where classes are over at 3PM.
Upon arrival:
Lunch (1/2 hour)
Homework assistance (1 hour)
The remaining 1.5 – 2.5 daily hours will be used for enrichment programs and value education. Above and beyond the 16 weekly hours of activities offered, participants will take part in class nature hikes, value education seminars and additional extra activities including “Children Paint War”.
A New Tomorrow is a modular program to fortify northern Israel. It can be implemented for requested communities, specific neighborhoods and/or specific schools. While it is possible to fund modular aspects of the program, the comprehensive effect of the program as a whole is most beneficial to recipients. Its impact on the population will be maximized when implemented in its entirety.
Photo Credit: Naftali Hilger