Youth Futures Afula

The Jewish Agency for Israel remains grateful and committed to the strong partnership between The Southern New England Consortium and the Afula-Gilboa region for your support of the Youth Futures Transitions to Middle School in Afula. Your gift of $10,000 helped provide vital services to sixth grade children and their families as they made the significant transition from elementary school to middle school, after participating in the Youth Futures mentoring program for up to three years

The following personal story illustrates the importance and impact of Youth Futures Afula: 

Anat (name changed to protect privacy) was excited to graduate from 6th grade this summer. She is an energetic and charming girl who has made great strides in her life during the three years she participated in the Youth Futures program. Anat is the sixth of seven children in her family. The mother works as a hospital cleaner; the father was previously incarcerated and struggles to find work. The mother is charming and mobilized in Anat's favor; she is in contact with the school and the Mentor. Anat doesn't share much about the family and doesn't talk about her father at all, although she was eventually brave enough to confide in her Mentor about violence in the family that was handled and reported to the necessary authorities in a timely manner. Anat is a very responsible girl, although she is also insecure, shy, very quiet and soft-spoken. Anat cherishes the meetings with her Mentor. By the end of the 6th grade, she was very socially stable and a leader among her peers. Anat and her mother took part in the mother-daughter Self Defense Workshop described above. It was moving to see them spending quality time together, strengthening each other and learning skills that will be useful in their everyday lives, due to circumstances in the home environment. The Transition to Middle School Program boosted Anat's confidence and eased her anxiety about transitioning next year. Anat expressed many concerns and uncertainties; however, she Youth Futures Afula: Transitions to Middle School Program │ page 4 A Year-End Program Update was very interested and tried to absorb as much as she could in every meeting. Particularly in the meeting with the educational staff the middle school, Anat took an active part and asked the counselor and the principal questions. She was not shy to make her voice heard and was satisfied with the answers she received. There is no doubt that Anat feels empowered as she begins her new chapter.