Kfar Hayeladim 20100
Karmiel
Israel
- Youth and education
Mission: to promote equal opportunity and develop civic leadership among youth aged 18 to 21, from Israel's socio-economic and geographic peripheries, via volunteer and follow-up programs. Ma'ase believe that the fire burning within the hearts of the youth of Israel’s socio-economic and geographic peripheries is that which can generate real change: By replacing the idea of Israeli society as a collection of rival sectors with the shared experience of volunteerism and personal growth, we unite our volunteers (religious and secular, advantaged and disadvantaged, new immigrants and native born, Jews and Arabs) around a shared set of values of morals and giving.
Objectives:
1. To promote leadership skills and personal development of young adults through volunteer programs.
2. To increase the accessibility of young adults from communities in the periphery to volunteer programs.
3. To improve the level of professionalism in volunteer programs for young adults in Israel.
Ma’ase operates all volunteer frameworks currently available in Israel:
• AFAK - Volunteer Year for Arab-Israeli Youth in Civic Service framework or a private volunteering year
• ACHVA - Volunteer Year for Young Women of Low Socio-Economic Background – Primarily of Ethiopian Origin in National Service framework
• EITAN - Multi-year track including volunteer year and military service in Nahal
• YACHAD - Pre-army year of volunteer service
• GAL - Pre-army leadership academy
All programs include (1) quality, significant long-term volunteer service in the local communities in formal and informal education frameworks, (2) development of personal and social skills through leadership training, (3) improvement of formal scholastic achievements and career development.
In addition to volunteer programs, Ma'ase also operates a Knowledge Development Center, Alumni Organization which includes a range of follow-up programs, Entrepreneurship Department serving as a greenhouse for new social projects and a Training and Services Department which acts as a source of revenue.
• Ma'ase has significant partnership with the Israeli government, which funds about 50% of its activities.
• Distinctive educational approach based on respect and demand for capability and excellence while providing a professional network of appropriate support and backup.
This approach contrasts the standard therapeutic, branding, weakening approaches typical of activities directed towards disadvantaged populations in Israel.
• Public recognition - Ma'ase was awarded the prestigious “Speaker of the Knesset Quality of Life Award” for 2011 for its work in promoting tolerance and narrowing social gaps in Israeli society.
Ma'ase also won the 2010 Sderot Conference Prize for Outstanding Social Impact. In June, Tel Aviv University will award Miki Nevo, Director of Ma'ase, with an honorary Doctorate degree in recognition of Ma'ase contribution to the promotion of equal opportunity and social mobility in youth from all strata and populations.
Ma'ase is now a mid-size organization that needs to evolve professionally and financially to ensure its long term sustainability and impact on Israeli society.
Under this strategic development area, Ma'ase is evolving its professional approach to a multi-year programmatic view that places the "young adult" we would like to see our volunteers become as the target towards which we work.
This approach entails a multistage process starting with the recruitment narratives, through the volunteer year, army service (if applicable) and into the first years of education or vocational training and integration into the job market.
This multi-year process requires us to engage in content that we have not yet dealt with. Therefore, we found it necessary to participate in a network of organizations that we can learn from them and generate partnerships with them in some areas.