MASHAV’s Youth At-Risk Program: Preventing Student Dropouts and Facilitating Reintegration

Every year MASHAV hosts participants from around the globe, including Belize, for month-long educational programs, often focusing on youth education and integration. This year the course will take place during the month of March at the A. Ofri International Training Center.

Within the framework of the debates about Education Beyond 2015 and the EFA Goals, many stakeholders are advocating for the introduction of a learning-related goal as the most appropriate
way to monitor educational progress and the prevention of early dropout rates and reducing inequality. This goal presents a great challenge which must be met with creativity, resourcefulness and hard work. One of the targeted populations within the stated goal is youth at-risk. This label – given by various authorities (psychologists, educators and sociologists) – refers to vulnerable adolescents from all socio-economic backgrounds for whom normal family life has been disrupted, and who lack sufficient parental or adult interaction.

For these young people, the educational system takes on a special significance. Therefore, it is especially crucial to create educational opportunities to widen access towards education. These
children must integrate into schools and training programs as quickly and as fully as possible, so they can have multiple opportunities for meaningful learning experiences.

Dale, from Belize, speaks about the lecture during the National Program for Youth At Risk.

However, “access” is complex and multifaceted. The professional educators who constantly mediate between students and the world around them must be even more supportive and caring when working with this special-needs group. Educators must create opportunities and impart skills, competencies and attitudes that will enable these adolescents to be productive and resourceful
members of society.

Every nation today is involved in the challenging process of providing a quality education to meet the new demands of the 21st century. Educational systems have to develop innovative outreach
programs for these school dropouts, focusing all efforts on creating positive conditions and individual skills that will foster resiliency and offset risk factors.

Given Israel’s many national responsibilities – including the absorption of massive numbers of immigrants from various countries and cultures, while simultaneously dealing with emergency
situations – its instructional and educational personnel have an important and highly complex role.