Non-Profit Organization no. 58-031-180-1
The following is a list of projects:
1. “Big Brother” project for the children of drug-afflicted families
2. The “It Can Be Different” club for youth of Ethiopian origins
3. The “It Can Be Different” club for immigrant youth from the CIS
4. Day care center for women drug-addicts
5. The parenting school – the center for meaningful parenting
1. “Big Brother” project for the children of drug-afflicted families
Rationale – The project organizes 10th-graders who mentor children of drug-afflicted families.
Once a week the children and the mentors meet and hold a joint activity and a group activity. Through the project we hope to empower the children from the drug-afflicted families, to illuminate their way despite all the hardships they encounter.
Approximately 100 children from drug-afflicted families and 100 10th-grade mentors take part in the project.
Successes – The project has been operating for a number of years and we are now aware that it contributes significantly to the children’s academic capabilities at school, their social abilities, integration, and improving contact with the parents.
In the future – We would very much like to increase the model and emhance it, doubling the number of children to 200 and the number of mentors respectively.
Costs – the cost of operating the present model is approximately $40,000.
In order to double the scope of the project we require an additional $40,000.
2. The “It Can Be Different” club for youth of Ethiopian origins
Rationale – The population of new immigrants from Ethiopia suffers from a very difficult socioeconomic situation. The unemployment percentage among these families is 90%.
Regretfully, youth of Ethiopian origins encounter many difficulties in their integration with Israeli-born youth and are tormented by their circumstances.
The “It Can Be Different” club serves as a “home” for youth in which they feel protected and secure. At the club they receive help with homework, the opportunity to work with computers, art and psychodrama classes, and drug- and violence-prevention programs.
Approximately 100 teenagers from the Ethiopian community participate in the club activities.
We are interested in expanding the activities and reaching approximately 200 teenagers from the Ethiopian community.
Costs – the current cost of operating the club is approximately $30,000.
In order to expand the activities we need approximately $30,000.
3. The “It Can Be Different” club for immigrant youth from the CIS
Rationale – As part of the policy of the Anti-Drug Authority and of the investment in new immigrants we operate a club for youth from the CIS. The teenagers receive preventive instruction, take part in community explanation activities, and are instrumental in internalizing the message of preventing drugs and violence amongst additional populations of new immigrant youth from the CIS. The Anti-Drug Authority is interested in increasing these activities and providing wider responses.
Costs – the cost of these activities is $10,000 annually.
Expanding the activities will require a budget of $10,000.
4. Day care center for women drug-addicts
Rationale – Treatment for drug addicts in Israel is provided to men and women together. Data analysis indicates that although the percentage of women drug-addicts is approximately 30% of all drug-addicts, less than 5% ask for help at the various treatment centers.
For this reason we have decided to open a unique treatment center for women. Since the State of Israel does not operate such centers, the operation costs are deducted from the municipal budget, which is limited to begin with.
Since the center opened in 2004 it has attracted a growing number of women who see it as a therapeutic response to their drug problem.
At present approximately 12 women drug addicts take part in the activities.
The center’s budget for 2005 is $50,000.
We need a minimal assistance of $30,000.
5. The parenting school – the center for meaningful parenting
Rationale – As part of the preventive concept of the Anti-Drug Authority we see the population of parents as a primary element of the Authority’s target population.
Training parents as a major element of the family prevention program aimed at the child is one of the Authority’s main targets.
The activities provide the parents with tools for setting limits, reinforcing communications with the child, and extensive knowledge of the drug problem among youth populations.
The State of Israel provides almost no funds for this important type of activity. For this reason, populations of poor parents, new immigrant parents, and others, cannot benefit from these services.
Feedback received from parents who have participated in these training sessions indicate the significant effect of continuing the contact and the functioning of the family structure.
Annual cost of operation is $10,000.
Cost of operation for poor families: $30,000.