Youth Renewal Fund
YRD Darca (YRF Darca) is a non-profit organization that operates the Darca network of 23 high schools and 2 learning centers in disadvantaged communities in Israel.
About YRF Darca
The organization was founded in 1989 was Youth Renewal Fund[1] as the grassroots effort of a number of dedicated individuals with the desire to improve the available academic opportunities for the underprivileged in Israel. It grew to become a prominent implementer of supplemental education programs in Israel. A study conducted by the organization found that over 60% of YRF alumni age 25 or older have obtained degrees from institutions of higher learning, compared to a national average of 17%.[2]
Youth Renewal Fund targeted low-income communities and implements various supplemental education programs serving students in grades 1-12. Its past and present initiatives included:
- After-school programs that provide up to 6 hours a week of additional studies in English, Hebrew and math, and often a nutritious, hot meal
- Single-subject, free-standing learning centers that serve several different school districts within a community
- In-school learning centers stocked with books, computers and other technology resources, located in classrooms within the public schools
- Teacher training and recognition programs
- Initiatives focused on Bagrut (matriculation exam) preparation
- Scholarship programs for alumni attending university
- Programs for parents to help them become better advocates for their children’s education
In August 2008, YRF launched a multi-year Teacher Professional Development Program, one of the first of its kind in Israel. In its pilot year, the program served nearly 200 YRF teachers. By 2011, YRF projects that it will train over 2,000 teachers, who will, in turn, teach 40,000 students.[3]
YRF has implemented over $25 million in programming, reaching more than 75,000 Israeli children. In the 2008-2009 academic year, YRF projects took place in the following communities: Afula, Ashdod, Gan Yavne, Givat Olga, Holon, Lod, Netanya, Pardes Chana, Ra'anana, Tirat Carmel, and Yehud.
In June 2014 YRF announced that it has formed an alliance with the Israeli nonprofit Darca school network to form YRF Darca. [4]
YRF Darca operates schools in the following municipalities: Arava Tichona, Ashkelon, Bat Yam, Ben Shemen, ElAd, Valley of Springs Regional Council, Gedera, Jerusalem, Kiryat Malakhi, Kiryat Shmona, Lod, Mikveh Israel, Netivot, & Yarka.
U.S. Board of Directors
The organization is governed by two Boards, one in the United States, and one in Israel.
Sam Katz, President
Stuart Angowitz, Harlan Cherniak, Jeff Cohen, Jamie Easton, David Feldman, Susan Flaxman, Jeffrey Freed, Jeff Gimbel, David Grin, Michael Gross, Karen Herron, Scott Hoffman, Sam Katz, Douglas Korn, Randye Kwait, Bret Pearlman, Allison Rosen, Bennett Rosenthal, Marc Rowan, Paul Schnell, Robert Schwartz, Jamie Schweid, Robert Sheft, Deborah Simon, Hope Taitz, Ross Weiner
Notes and references
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- ↑ Youth Renewal Fund, "Why Israel Needs YRF" Archived July 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Youth Renewal Fund Press Release, July 28, 2008 Archived July 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ YRF Darca Alliance Announcement
See also
- Bagrut
- Education in Israel
- Israel's National Student and Youth Council
- Ministry of Education (Israel)
- The Knesset Committee on Education, Culture and Sport