PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: The Village Way Young Leadership Programs for At-Risk Youth

IFCJ Canada  |  November 22, 2024

Giving Tuesday is December 3—just one week away! On this day dedicated to making a difference around the world, we’re launching a special effort to support at-risk youth in Israel through The Village Way Young Leadership Program.

Impoverished Jews from around the world are given the opportunity to make aliyah through our program here at IFCJ Canada. Many olim (immigrants) are fleeing war, poverty, and anti-Semitism, often arriving in Israel with nothing but their personal items. These harsh conditions are particularly difficult for young people who also lack the resources to support their growth and development in a new home.

Through the youth leadership program, these young people on the periphery of society are provided a path to better futures in Israel. They not only receive training for careers in Israel, they also receive much-needed emotional support.

When Gabaynish, an olim from Ethiopia, first joined the IFCJ Canada-funded leadership program for girls, she was quiet and extremely shy. During the year she was in the program, Gabaynish set a personal goal for herself to work on her confidence. She began participating in public-speaking workshops and would practice speaking in front of a group.

The confidence she received was the foundation she needed to become a case worker. Her time at the IFCJ Canada-funded program was a turning point in her life—and now Gabaynish is helping other Israelis, the same way that you helped her.

“I want donors to understand how important their support truly is,” she says. “You’re providing young people like me with an unlimited future. Thank you!”

Help transform lives and provide promising futures by supporting Jewish youth from immigrant and at-risk backgrounds. Your gift provides year-long support, nutritious meals, and leadership development to empower these young people to break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter future.  

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