Shitufim Program

The Shitufim program was established to provide a solution for teens struggling with addictions and other hardships, upon growing up in underprivileged circumstances, and being exposed to difficulties due to the Covid outbreak and personal reasons.

The target audience for the Shitufim program is youth from struggling families, with no support, who attend institutions that cannot provide for their needs. These teens are exposed to everyday hardships and drug, alcohol and violence additions from a young age, and struggle in seeing a brighter future for themselves.

The program operations on a 3-tier model:

Tier 1:

The mentor builds up trust with his students through weekly in-class meetings over a period of two months. Simultaneously, every student who displays an interest in breaking the addiction and danger cycle receives personal, one-on-one mentoring.

Tier 2:

Students from different classes within the school form a group facilitated by a trained mentor, and receive valuable life skills, support and mentorship regarding addictions and handling hardships. The group setting provides students with a safe space, and offers them strength and empowerment, alongside a hope for a better future.

Tier 3:

The mentor creates a curriculum based on the students needs. Curriculum includes mental agility, crisis management, and in-depth understanding of addiction and its origins. Additionally, the mentor gets to know each student personally, identifies their breaking points, and provides them with tools to help them integrate into society.

Students who display increased risk factors will receive treatments for addiction outside the school settings.

Each school has a steering committee which includes the principal, consultants, social workers and project managers. Together, they work to achieve the 3 main goals:

• Agility training and risk management
• Insight to a brighter future
• Improved school performance