Four for Inbal Aharonovitch

Four For Inbal Aharonovitch

  • 12/5/2012
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    ​Inbal Aharonovitch is helping to give at risk Israeli teens a second chance at life. Aharanovitch directs the Pure Expressions after-school program at the Miftan Alon school. Miftan Alon is an educational, therapeutic, rehabilitation program that serves as a safety net for endangered youth between the ages of 14-18.  Most of these teens come from dysfunctional families; some have behavioral or emotional difficulties.

    Simply by creating the right environment needed for them to change their lives - giving them a sense of belonging, a home and a family with unconditional love and acceptance, the staff of Mifan helps each of these children.  Pure Expressions is an essential part of this process.

    The Israeli Consulate proudly presents beautful judiaca made by the teens of the Pure Expressions program  at this year's Winter Wonderland at Atlanta's Fernbank Museum of Natural History.  The items are part of the Israeli Consulate's exhibit on Hannuakah.

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    ​1.  Tell us more about the Pure Expressions program and its place in the Miftan Alon School.

    Inbal: Miftan Alon is not a normal school. It's for children who are at the end of their rope. The Pure Expressions program is an after-school program. Instread of going to the streets and getting into trouble these children can take part in this program where they can earn money.  At Pure Expressions, teens learn how to make jewelry and art and they get paid for their labor.

    2. How was the program started?

    The program started 9 years ago by a social worker who had the idea to keep kids off the streets. I've been director for the past two years.

    3. How do the kids earn money exactly?

    Inbal: The teens who participate in the program are paid by the hour. Everything they make is sold in the general public. The jewelry, judiaca and art are all sold on the internet, in shops and to big companies. All the proceeds go to the children and to buying more supplies.

    4. How many kids are participating and what keeps them in the program? How do you prevent kids from dropping out and going back to the streets?

    Right now there are 8 kids in the program. This is out of 70 kids in the school. The children who take part in the program are there because they need the money. They don't get paid if they don't show up. The money is important and almost all of them love to do art and make jewelry.

     

    We invite the public to view beautful judiaca made by the teens of the Pure Expressions program at this year's Winter Wonderland at Atlanta's Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The items are part of the Israeli Consulate's exhibit on Hannuakah.

     

     
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