Israeli Youth-at-Risk Clinch Deal of a Lifetime

Roie and his colleagues at "Pure Expression" Silver Handicrafts are immensely proud of their latest business transaction: soon, every Israeli embassy in the world will hang mezuzahs made and marketed by their small company. No small achievement.

Pure Expression is not just any business though, and Roie is not just any employee. Pure Expression is one of a growing number of business initiatives in Israel which employs and trains youth-at-risk, like seventeen-year-old Roie, providing them with the skills to succeed in the real world.

Ashalim, a partnership between JDC, the government of Israel and UJA-Federation of New York, has initiated ten such businesses in Israel, collectively called "It's a Deal." An additional thirty businesses are in the pipeline, with ten of them anticipated to open within the year. Examples of "It's a Deal" initiatives include coffee shops in high tech companies, the marketing of billboard space and a petting zoo and animal activity center for visits by schoolchildren.

Success for these young entrepreneurs can mean the difference between a life on the streets, or a bright future.

In Israel, 35,000 young people aged 13-18 have dropped out of formal education. Over 20,000 of them are not in any structured study, work or treatment framework and are at high risk of slipping into delinquency and destructive behavior. With so many youth at risk in Israel, now more than ever innovative solutions are in demand.

Nir, Director of Ashalim's "It's a Deal" program, explains that this entrepreneurial program for youth is a success because it addresses their two biggest problems: "Money and boredom," says Nir. He explains that the program is popular with participating youth because the youth earn money and the linkage is clear. "You learn to negotiate? You close a deal. You talk politely with a client? You have a return customer," Nir explains.

Nir admits the transformation is not immediate. "These kids may continue to steal cellular phones and resell them for a quick buck," he says. "At first. But eventually they stop. The businesses are time-intensive, with most of these kids working more than twenty hours a week. That keeps them busy. The youth have to change their lifestyle to make it in the business world. They have to wake up early and to be on time for work. When they make an honest living, they feel fulfilled."

Nir strongly believes in the ability of youth at risk to succeed, even if not in the classroom. "Some say every kid can succeed at school if given the proper tools. I say, let's give the kids the tools to succeed, in a way that speaks to them. For some these are classroom tools, for others it is how to make it in the real world."

Therapy is not the best way to help these youngsters either, says Nir. "These kids don't need to swim with dolphins or ride on yaks. That will occupy them only so long, and it's costly.

"Give these kids the training and motivation to become a contributing member of society," says Nir. "That is what will help them and Israel most," he says.

Besides being popular with participating youth, there is another important advantage of the program: after initial start-up costs, "It's a Deal" costs nothing.

Businesses are established with guaranteed customer contracts to ensure their survival for at least a year. For the youth of one city, that meant signing a contract with the local municipality to employ them as gardeners of the public grounds. Another municipality purchased all its billboard space through the "It's a Deal" business. "It’s a combination of free market and social economy," explains Nir. "A sort of entrepreneurial affirmative action," he notes. After salaries and expenditures, remaining profits are reinvested in the company.

The program also is strongly based on volunteerism in the business sector. Mentors, volunteers from the business sector, serve as role models. "The only thing preventing the establishment of a thousand such businesses is the challenge of locating committed businesspeople who are willing to help start one up," says Nir.

Professional training is paid for by the Government of Israel, which provides three weekly hours of professional training for each child who is not in an educational framework. For a group of five young entrepreneurs, that is fifteen hours of training per week.

For Roie and his peers, that meant learning to work with silver. Next year, Roie will enter an Institute to further develop the skill he learned to love.

"I enjoy working with silver. I think I've found my future profession," he says.

Roie and his workmates recently met with the head architect of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to refine their sketches in preparation for mass production of their artwork.

"Voila," says Roie, coolly expressing his satisfaction, "we're making mezuzot for the Foreign Ministry! And they're mine! No one I know has ever done something like this."

Roie is also excited about visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December. At that time, his work and that of his peers will be on display there. Minister Sivan Shalom will greet the youth in a ceremony, thanking them for their contribution and wishing them a successful future.

"Just surviving in today's economic environment is difficult," says Nir, referring to the business. For these youth though, their survival depends on it.