Kaima
Social and Environmental Action Learning for Youth-at-Risk Concept Paper - Phase I (March 2013)
Amutat Kaima Phone: Yoni Yefet Reich 972-52-381-7793 / Beit Zayit 42, 90815 Israel / Email kaima.office@gmail.com Amuta Registration Number: 580568103 1
MISSION STATEMENT Kaima, meaning sustainability in Aramaic, is a newly established Israeli NGO that aims to reengage and empower drop-out, at-risk and otherwise marginalized youth through a multifaceted program of hands-on organic farming. Kaima Organic Farm, nestled in pastoral Moshav Beit Zayit just outside of Jerusalem, seeks to provide employability skills; offer work experience; teach teamwork; encourage leadership development and community building; and foster environmental stewardship in a safe and supportive environment. The farm will offer meaningful work for Israelis, ages 15 - 18, who cannot adjust to, let along thrive in, other settings. Each participant will learn to grow, cultivate, market and sell the farm's organic products and to see themselves as fully invested partners in the undertaking. Kaima will create further impact by collaborating with other professionals committed to transforming the lives of a distressing number of young Israelis who have exceptional difficulty finding their place in the world and are living on the margins of society and even their own families.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM Only around a third of Israeli teenagers who drop out of school receive support services from the Education Ministry after they leave the education system, In the 2011-2012 school year the Ministry of Education's Youth Advancement Units, conceived as safety nets for at-risk teens, saw 10,232 dropouts. An internal Education Ministry presentation put the total number of school dropouts in 2010 (the last year for which figures are available) at 28,176 nearly three times the number that received aid from the Ministry.1 According to Central Bureau of Statistics data, dropouts account for around eight percent of students in each grade. The Brookdale Institute, which has been studying the issue for years, has found that for every student who drops out of school officially there is at least one more "hidden dropout" a disengaged student who is officially still in school but is alienated and on the way to dropping out entirely. According to the internal Education Ministry presentation, more than half of the dropouts who find their way to the Youth Advancement Units do so only after being disengaged from the educational system for at least a year.2 While there are numerous reasons behind this disturbing trend, the facts are clear: an increasing number of Israeli teens, disillusioned and incapable of relating to conventional social values and adult-driven systems, are withdrawing from established society. Regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds, all are at risk of failing in some major task necessary to assure a happy and productive life. Both for the individual and for society, the immediate and future costs are significant. Creative solutions must be adopted so as to redirect and motivate Israeli youth, particularly those without a bagrut (matriculation certificate), to better themselves by providing the tools and knowledge for personal and professional development. 1
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/only-a-third-of-school-dropouts-receive-support-from-israel-s-education-ministry-1.460702
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http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/only-a-third-of-school-dropouts-receive-support-from-israel-s-education-ministry-1.460702 2
PROGRAM SUMMARY “It is critical to note that ‘at risk’ is a concept that reflects a chance or a probability. It does not imply certainty. Risk factors raise the chance of poor outcomes, while protective factors raise the chance of good outcomes.” (Kristin Anderson Moore, Ph.D)
Organic farming and the pride which comes with growing, literally and metaphorically, is a highly effective vehicle to connect young people who feel discarded by society to something inherently meaningful. In the fall of 2012 a group of young Israeli social entrepreneurs, several of whom have significant backgrounds in youth-at-risk programs, were driven to combine their passion for organic farming with a desire to make a deep impact on the lives of dropout, marginalized and otherwise at-risk youth, particularly those who are unable to adapt to conventional indoor learning and adult-driven social frameworks. While it is legal in Israel to drop out of school at the age of 16, many unofficially do so earlier. Some are enrolled in limited educational programs; others do not attend school at all. A number take drugs, are in foster care or on the streets, and some are in trouble with the law. Lacking the warmth and love needed to flourish and develop, most share a common feeling that society has somehow failed them and that they have failed themselves. Such isolation discourages any sense of social cohesion or solidarity with others. Without new interventions that give them a sense of immediate, engaging purpose and meaningful boundaries these young Israelis will never reach their true potential as satisfied and productive members of society. Recognizing that there are many important programs within Israel's non-profit sector which provide critical support for this population, Kaima offers something unique. It is built around an entirely different concept which connects skill acquisition, hands-on learning, hard work, and, notably, financial compensation to the message that anything is possible based on the following principles: A. Every person has a special need. B. Every person has the inner capacity for self-improvement. C. Creativity is a powerful tool to ignite one's imagination and to make change. D. For some, effective learning is the result of experience, not classroom lessons. E. Even the most disenfranchised, including those who have been thrown out of school and other programs, are worthy of redemption and must be empowered to start anew. Accordingly, Kaima seeks to offer these youth an exciting and enjoyable informal educational encounter and the practical opportunity to build a sense of promise and possibility through the experience of succeeding physically, emotionally, and socially and, in the process, to help prepare them for the next stage of their adult lives.
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ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS A. To impart new skills, including planning, team building, marketing, and selling that can be transferred to sustaining other areas of life. B. To create the ways and means for youth-at-risk to succeed in life by training them to develop and trust their internal resources, such as self esteem and a sense of mastery; and to assume meaningful work and take responsibility for its outcome. C. To teach urban at-risk youth about the environment and healthy lifestyles by bringing them into nature. D. To offer the NGO and government authorities working with youth-at-risk relevant solutions to complement their own programs of engagement. E. To enable the community at large to enjoy fresh produce grown by young people who are earning salaries and dignity.
HOW IT WILL WORK Kaima's activities are based on permaculture principles which teach people how to achieve environmental sustainability by growing one's own food, restoring diminished landscapes and ecosystems, collecting rainwater, and building natural homes and communities. Phase I of Kaima Organic Farm calls for the planting of 12 dunams (3 acres) of fertile land in Beit Zayit donated by enthusiastic local families who believe in community development and the principles and ethics of permaculture to promote internal connections. Notably, other community members are prepared to donate their own undeveloped fields for subsequent planting seasons. The project will teach/impart agricultural and leadership skills, communication and marketing, basic business knowledge, fiscal and personal accountability, and environmental responsibility. Those eligible to take part include youth-at-risk (as identified by the Ministry of Education) who have either fallen out of the system or are receiving minimal formal instruction. Acceptance as a program participant will be based on a competitive interview process and psychological review. If selected, each person will receive minimum wage (dictated by the State, based on age) for what is in essence an on-the-job apprenticeship. The first crops will be planted by Kaima's board, members of the community, and other volunteers who are also preparing the land. Program participants will join the undertaking just before the first harvest season. Once up and running, activities will take place daily from 8:00 4:00 in different shifts. The farm will provide crops to CSA subscribers (see below) and the public at large in Beit Zayit, Ein Kerem, Mevaseret and other neighborhoods within and on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
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Scaling up, something we hope to do in year two or three, will be relatively straightforward as: 1) the endeavor has already generated interest well beyond the 70 families who will receive weekly food baskets as CSA members; and 2) other nearby landowners, pleased with the idea of such a social project in their community, have offered their land for future use. In fact, we have at our disposal at least twice the size of our current plots for potential development. We maintain that Kaima Organic Farm offers a real possibility to contribute to a society in which there are hundreds of thousands of kids who experience no sense of possibility. In terms of its own sustainability, Kaima is a grassroots venture with the ambition and potential to become a model for replication in other communities.
WHO WILL BENEFIT A. The Participants: In addition to aiding “dropouts” - youth who have already left school the project will also embrace “disengaged youth” - commonly referred to as “hidden dropouts” - that is, youth who still attend some educational framework, but who are often absent, have poor scholastic achievements, feel alienated from their school and the learning process, and exhibit behavioral and social problems. The prevailing view is that dropping out is a process…the consequence of a cumulative, devolving relationship between students who have unique adjustment needs and society's ability to respond.3 B. Our Partners: Kaima will work with other NGO's and government ministries in order to provide meaningful engagement of the young people with whom they are concerned. The project, even in its conceptual stages, has been enthusiastically received by a number of organizations and authorities who are keenly interested in our novel approach to engaging this population in meaningful work designed to create both an immediate and long-term impact. That our model seeks to provide incentive for youth-at-risk to apply themselves on a sustained basis to an enterprise for which they are ultimately responsible speaks directly to the type of mindset change needed to foster a sense of purpose. Though we are still building our model, to date our potential partners have already identified participants for immediate program placement. They include: 1. Jerusalem and Mate Yehuda branches of Kidum Noar (Advancement of Youth), a municipal-run initiative charged with aiding dropouts and finding them work. 2. The Ministry of Social Affairs in both Jerusalem and Mate Yehuda. Not only is the ministry interested in Kaima for the 15-18 year old sector, we are also discussing other initiatives for different age groups. 3. Elem. The Jerusalem branch of Israel's largest NGO committed to helping at-risk youth become productive citizens is currently in the process of organizing a special preparatory seminar to link their program with Kaima's. 3
JDC Brookdale Institute 5
C. The Community: In general, organic farming is characterized by practices which do not rely on the use of heavy machinery (except in the preparation of land for the first growing season), an absence of chemicals and pesticides, and the use of composting for fertilization. With interest in organic food and its consumption on the rise, Kaima's model of teaching permaculture means that there is a natural market waiting to be developed. We are purposely limiting our crop in the first year to the five dunams at our disposal so as to control and evaluate the project in real time.
THE 2013 WORK PLAN January February April July August Summer October December
Development and relationship-building begins * Preparing the land: removing stones, building fences, terracing and installing the water pump. (Note: the land is already zoned for agricultural use.) * Planting the first crop: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, kale, zucchini, eggplant, corn, beans, coriander, rocket, pumpkin, sweet potato, melon, watermelon. * Harvesting the first crop and begin selling according to the CSA model (described below)* Participant recruitment is solidified Selling, teaching, preparing for the next planting season, learn permaculture principles, leadership, business skills, promotion, communication. Planting, continuation of educational program, sales and marketing, initial evaluation.
* Most of the manpower for the first seven months of the project is being provided pro-bono.
THE MODEL The project is being developed according to the assumption that all people desire to be a part of something meaningful. In this effort, Kaima will provide work and much-needed access to community based on the fundamentals of organic farming and fair trade in a safe and accepting place in nature. We will teach participants to grow, cultivate, market and sell the farm's crops and to see themselves as fully invested partners in maintaining the business. The opportunity to develop themselves individually and as part of a team will help integrate participants into Israeli society in productive ways. A. Pedagogic model: Kaima's educational model is based on the collective experience of the founders who seek to invest in Israel's youth who feel forgotten by society in order to empower them to bring about their own brighter future. Much of the inspiration for the project comes from the pedagogic legacy of Dr. Aryeh Geiger (of blessed memory), a clinical psychologist, rabbi, and the founder of Amutat Re'ut, who stressed that children must be empowered and engaged in creating their own lives. The strengths of the pedagogic model include the power to: 6
1. Legitimize non-conventional educational settings. 2. Encourage young people to engage in positive interaction with adults and their peers. 3. Provide much-needed on-the-job training and life skills for young people facing significant barriers. 4. Bring urban youth into nature. 5. Offer other professionals relevant solutions in support of their efforts to provide the skills needed to help Israel's youth integrate into the workforce. B. Economic model: The economic model of the farm assumes that all profits will be reinvested. Kaima is a hybrid of a social business where the intention is to create a social benefit through a self-sustaining venture. A number of social businesses are well conceived but poorly executed in that they do not take into account that income rarely compensates fully for expenses. While we hope to decrease our dependence on external resources over time, this effort, particularly in the pilot phase, requires the involvement of the local business community and philanthropic contributions. 1. Selling in a multi-faceted market place and reinvesting profits: Community Supported Agriculture: CSA refers to communities who pledge to support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSA subscribers pay a set price for a share of the anticipated harvest. Once harvesting begins, each member receives a weekly portion of fruit and vegetables, based on availability, typically delivered to their home. After consulting several local growers we understand that a minimum 70 baskets can be produced each week from the size of our current plot. Each basket costs 100 NIS ($25) and should be sufficient for a family of four. Each family commits to buying at least one box per week. Though CSA is fast gaining in popularity throughout Israel, Jerusalem is a bit behind the trend. We anticipate that Kaima Organic Farm will provide an example of how to help advance the movement in the capital city. Friday Market: Additional produce will be sold during Beit Zayit's Friday Market in the field itself, allowing visitors to pick their own fruits and vegetables. Store Without a Seller: This honor system way of selling is common practice in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, in rural areas where people live significant distances from town centers. Kaima will maintain a basta (stand) close to the farm and will have available a variety of produce with a price list, standard weight, and a cash box. While not everyone will be fair, we believe that this is an important way to teach others about honesty and faith. Note: Surplus crops will be offered to restaurants, organic cooperatives or soup kitchens. All profits after expenses and participant stipends will be reinvested in the project. 7
2. Involving philanthropists: The role of the philanthropic community cannot be underestimated, particularly in the start-up phase. While anticipated profits will provide an income stream which we project will increase over time, philanthropy will offer Kaima the resources needed to accomplish our pedagogic goals. In the first phase, approximately 60% percent of our projected operating costs will need to be raised from individual donors and foundations, with the balance derived from government partners, in-kind support, and profits from our fall harvest. 3. Engaging the community: We have already recruited recent high school graduates and army-age youth to volunteer their time during the first growing season. Moreover, Kaima has attracted the attention of industry leaders in the field of drip irrigation and other sectors of the corporate world who are enthusiastic about being a part of the project. To date we have secured significant in-kind assistance in a number of sectors.
OUR TEAM The people behind Kaima are passionate about what they do. Their collective experience working with youth and respect for permaculture as a means of creating community align to make this unique opportunity possible. Nearly all have experience in educational endeavors, organic farming or both. Critical to this endeavor is the understanding that people involved in the third sector and the business community can and should partner in order to create greater impact in people's lives. Presently all members of the team are volunteering their time and will continue to do so throughout the start-up phase:
Yoni Yefet Reich. The founder of Kaima, Yoni was born in Beit Zayit and is a graduate of the nearby Ein Kerem Community Environmental School. He has considerable experience in amuta management as well as in informal social educational program development and implementation. Yoni received his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2005 and is currently studying for his MA in Non-Profit Management at Hebrew University.
Tamir Deutch. Tamir is a social worker who works extensively with youth-at-risk and is an avid agriculturalist with experience in organic farming throughout Israel.
Ran Ginat. Ran is now studying for his first degree at Israel's Oranim Academic College of Education. Following his army service he developed a unique program of "educational herding" at Bat Shlomo, a small village located on the southern slopes of Mount Carmel.
Uri Kandel. Uri is an experienced educator who runs a youth at-risk club sponsored by the Mevaseret Municipality. His first degree is in Philosophy; he is currently studying for his second degree in Public Policy. Uri is a member of ROI Community, a bold initiative that connects dynamic Jewish leaders from around the globe, enabling them to turn their passion into action by creating transformative work for the Jewish world and beyond.
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Eli Levi. Eli is uniquely qualified to serve as the organization's pedagogic agriculturalist as he has ten years of experience as an organic farmer and has worked as an educator for children with special needs.
Naomi Lifschitz. Naomi is an educator, who works at the Ramot School in Bat Yam to reduce educational gaps and encourage matriculation for youth-at-risk through the Tafnit advanced learning program.
Aviva Pepperman: Aviva is an educator with vast experience working with youth-at-risk in several places including: Mechinat Beit Yisrael, a pre-army leadership development program at Kibbutz Beit Yisrael; a modern-day community of religious and secular pioneers who live, work and volunteer in the heart of Jerusalem's impoverished Gilo Aleph Public Housing Project; and Hodayot Youth Village in the Lower Galilee with a large percentage of Ethiopian immigrants. She also teaches specialists who work with youth-at-risk.
Erez Spivak. An educator and organic farmer with experience in both Israel and Europe, Erez's first degree is in psychology. He also has worked extensively to help rehabilitate youth-at-risk at Amutat-Em-Haderech in the Jerusalem village of Lifta.
Nadav Ben Susan: Nadav is the former coordinator of Moadon Re'ut, a soup kitchen and social club for Jerusalem's poor and elderly, conceived of and run by high school youth. For his National Service commitment Nadav volunteers with the Negev B'Midbar Project which works to advance the local Bedouin community and promote coexistence.
Yuval Yardeni: Yuval, a psychologist working in field of education is an advisor to Kaima.
CONCLUSION Understanding that some youth are unable to develop or thrive within formal educational systems, they nevertheless desire and deserve to be engaged in society. Beyond our commitment to agricultural sustainability, Kaima also maintains that society must be committed to human sustainability. In this effort we must collectively attend to the unique needs of and embrace each individual, regardless of his or her limitations.
IMPORTANT LINKS Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Kaima.BeitZait Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqIjz87mWcM
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