Pre-military Leadership Program for Immigrant Youth
The Mechina
Since 2000, the Yemin Orde Pre-Military Leadership Program for Immigrant Youth, the Mechina, empowers young Israeli immigrants with leadership skills in preparation for their army service and later in civilian life following a period of meaningful service in the IDF. Each year, 55 young immigrants, mainly from Ethiopia and the Former Soviet Union participate in the one-year program. The participants come from cities and towns all around Israel, and all are from low socio-economic backgrounds.
With over 300 graduates, the Mechina has been successful on myriad levels. The program has succeeded in imbuing these marginalized young immigrants with a sense of belonging and social responsibility. The program has been successful both in terms of changing the participants’ goals for their army service and in changing the IDF’s attitude towards immigrants. 90% of the Mechina graduates serve in combat units, and 30% served in command positions while 7% have served as officers. Following their army service, many graduates have gone on to higher education and are well integrated in Israeli society; they are on par with their Israeli-born peers.
The Mechina is located in the northern development town of Hatzor, a community of immigrants and first generation Israelis who, like the program participants, often feel marginalized in Israeli society. One of the most important elements of the Mechina program is the community service requirement. Based in the philosophy of tikkun olam, all participants volunteer in the local community on a regular basis in order to experience the empowering benefit of being able to help people-in-need, as well as to become further engaged with the local community and bring a sense of vitality and energy. Participants volunteer in after-school programs, in absorption centers, in community centers with local youth, and with the elderly.
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