Nirim Youth Village Individual Treatment Program

Wilderness Therapy & events –

In the last three months the Nirim Youth have been experiencing survival treks in the desert, leadership seminars, celebrated Hanukah and Tu B'shvat (Holiday of` the trees). Started with Winter matriculation in History. Literature and English will be in Feb.

ODT activities take place in the village and in the neighborhoods homes and classes once every week.    

How many are we as of today?

As of today there are 108 youth, boys & girls, living and studying in the youth village.

There are 450 youth at Nirim in the Neighborhoods.

There are Approx. 356 Nirim in the Neighborhoods Graduates

170 Nirim Youth Village Graduates

There is nothing like a personal story to describe what Nirim is all about…

Nirim for me…

When you cross through the gate of the village you feel a change in the air, calmness in some sort…when you look at the sign "Nirim, Striving for Excellence" you can't imagine how deeply this sentence will live in your heart.

…I arrived to Nirim ANGRY. Angry with my parents, with the welfare department that forced me to leave my home, angry at the whole world…I felt that everyone wanted to get rid of me…

The truth was that I knew I had many problems, only I couldn't define them. I watched my friends from the side doing well in school and not making a deal when people stared. I remember freaking out thinking everyone stared. I arrived to Nirim confused, angry and scared. Scared to be far from home, scared for not being able to make new friends, scared to end up a lone… sometimes I think I was scared to make a change.

It's hard in Nirim, but here you can be yourself, you can speak out your opinions and be heard.

In nirim I learned to develop healthy and good relationships. I learned to talk about what bothers me and learned to expand my vocabulary. I learned to enjoy studying in class and feel smart and worthy…

I developed new skills, such as: play the guitar and play Basket Ball as a part of a team.

I learned to use words, to count on my leaders, I learned the meaning of being a part of a group.

 In Nirim I was awarded with warmth and love in so many ways: Embracing hug, a good encouraging talk with my personal guide or with the social worker who I considered a gift for me and sometimes by a set of boundaries.

Nirim is my second home, sometimes my main home. …I wish for every kid to have some sort of Nirim once in their life"

G. Nirim Graduate

Links:

• http://www.nirim.org/en

Nirim was founded by commanders and brothers-in-arms of the late Navy Seals' Sergeant First Class Nir Krichman.  Nir was killed in action, in 2002, during the elite unit operation against terrorists in Nablus. His commander, once himself an at-risk teen was motivated, to create a program that elevates and empowers youth at high risk, and to name it in his memory, Nirim.

Established in 2002, Nirim provides youth at extreme-risk with an opportunity, in many cases their last, to overcome their harsh life circumstances, discover their strengths, and become self-confident, successful, fulfilled and contributing members of society. Nirim nurtures, empowers, educates and literally changes the lives of 500 teens every year.

We are derived from a profound belief that every one of our adolescents, regardless of their starting point, can achieve academic and personal goals far beyond their own expectations, develop their individual talents, build up their self-image, gain a new set of tools and create a different life path.

 Nirim Foundation employs two unique educational-therapeutic programs:

• The Nirim Youth Village - located on the northern shore of Israel, a unique residential setting for 100 at-risk teens aged 14 -18.  "The Nirim Track" (3-4 years,) is a highly intensive program for youth removed from their families by the Youth Protection Authority or referred by the Juvenile Court as an alternative to jail.
• Nirim in the Neighborhoods -  a community outreach program currently active in socio-economically deprived, crime-saturated neighborhoods in 13 cities throughout Israel. Nirim in the Neighborhood centers are open daily and late into the night, offering over 400 youngsters an opportunity to turn their lives around, facilitated by educational mentoring, outbound challenge activities, and tools for parental guidance and support.

Numbers of April 2015

-       104 kids at the youth village

-       400 youth at Nirim in the Neighborhoods.

-       68% eligible to full matriculation diploma in the village.

-       350 Nirim in the Neighborhoods Graduates

-       150 Nirim Youth Village Graduates

-       30% girls

-       99.5% enlisted to the IDF

Wilderness Therapy & events –

-       Winter Matriculation In literature, Language, English & History

-       Tu Bshvat activities (Holiday of the trees)

-       Purim Celebration

-       Passover survival trek village / neighborhoods

-       14 ODT activities in the Villages and 14 in each Nirim in the neighborhoods homes, once every week

Links:

• http://www.nirim.org/en