Combating Dropoutism
Meled is an accredited academic high school where the 75 students are young Israeli men and women of high school age and represent a growing phenomenon of dropoutism within all parts of the religious spectrum. Meled is located in the center of Jerusalem on Hillel Street, just behind Zion Square and the Ben Yehudah pedestrian mall. They are situated at the heart of the city's bar and nightclub district, a focal point for many of the struggling youth of the Greater Jerusalem area. The student body includes substance abusers, the physically and emotionally abused, as well as those who have dropped out for not ‘fitting in’ to the standard educational system. Some of the students need an extra push to help them prepare for high school matriculation exams while others with learning deficits and disabilities need private tutoring to help them be the best they can be.
Meled wanted to initiate a program of private tutoring to help give the students the extra ‘push’ they need outside of the Meled classroom during the school day. Despite the already small classes, many of the students find it difficult to meet their potential and Meled’s needs in the area of private tutoring reflect the different needs of their students. They propose to use only teachers who can successfully utilize the methods of teaching that match the students learning styles and who have the ability to motivate, invigorate and instill a sense of self-esteem in the students who are at immediate risk.
Our Involvement
For the second year, HOT is funding a program for 9 students to help prepare them for their matriculation exams. Additionally, we have supplied a grant to meet the needs of 3 students with learning deficits and disabilities. Meled's tutoring needs go well beyond this. The most disadvantaged students need professional specialized teachers who can discern what style of instruction can best work with the students who are at immediate risk. Hands On Tzedakah also supplied funds for extra bus passes for the students. The most needy are eligible for t partial transportation subsidies from the municipality social services. But in order to save some "punches" on their buss pass card, for social reasons, they sometimes walk the long distances to school. Meled recognizes that it would be beneficial for the kids morale to have some bus rides available for personal use and we agreed.
Contact Information:
Meled of Jerusalem, Dr. Menachem Gottesman, Founder and Dean, 30 Hillel St. P.O.B. 2875, Jerusalem, 91028 Israel, telephone: 972-2-6244702, email: eli@meled.org.il, web site: http://www.meled.org.il
