Vision
Education revolves around the transmission of knowledge and values through human interaction. Yet in this crisis-ridden time, Israel faces an acute shortage in educators, leaving youth with limited guidance just when they need it most.
The Salt of the Land initiative seeks to incorporate rehabilitating war veterans in the field of education, becoming inspirational role models to at-risk youth while healing their own lives.
Activity
Village Way Educational Initiatives (VWEI) develops structured, innovative responses to today’s educational challenges. Its pioneering programs equip educators working with at-risk youth with a clear educational roadmap, practical skills, and the resilience needed for this demanding work.
VWEI’s core activities include in-depth training for educational teams in dozens of schools and youth villages across Israel, from the Lebanese border to the desert South. VWEI spearheads educational leadership programs for school principals, youth village directors, and prominent educators, and serves as a professional advisory body to municipalities, the IDF, and other security forces. Additionally, VWEI operates the Yemin Orde and Israelite gap-year leadership programs (Mechinot) that prepare young people from Israel’s social periphery for well-integrated, productive adult lives.
Through these initiatives, VWEI responds to urgent educational needs and addresses the complex challenges facing both youth and educators today. Pertinently, at a time when youth villages, schools, and Mechinot face an unprecedented staffing shortage, The Salt of the Land program trains motivated, value-driven, rehabilitating war veterans to serve as mentors and guides for youth at risk. By stepping into this educational role, they bolster the youths’ emotional well-being and sense of agency, while finding new meaning and direction in their own lives.