Yemin Orde’s Eco-Farm encourages young minds to grow and learn.
Yemin Orde Youth Village’s innovative Eco-Farm has launched a pilot work-study scholarship project, in which a teen can partner with professional staff in operating the farm.
Each participating youngster chooses an area of concentration at the Eco-Farm, such as the goat herd, the beehives, or the greenhouses and more. Then, the teen commits to working two shifts per week, 
(one morning shift from 6:00 – 7:30 a.m., and one evening shift, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.) side by side with the farm’s professionals.
The work-study program has proved so popular that 70 teens have applied for this year’s 25 positions at the Eco-Farm. There are three applicant categories: agriculture majors, youth who have already worked on the farm but are majoring in other subjects, and girls (who currently make up 20 percent of the work-study participants).
Yemin Orde youth, Irena, enjoys farm life at the EcoFarm
The main objective for this program is to encourage interest and involvement of an increased number of teens in the Eco-Farm, and for these youth to take more responsibility for the farm’s activities. For example, caring for the farm’s herd of goats is a popular and therapeutic activity for our youth. Twice a day, small groups of children take turns to shepherd the goats to graze in a nearby pasture.
Where young minds grow
The Eco-Farm is also a popular social gathering place for many Village celebrations and programs throughout the year. Our youth gain a sense of self-esteem, pride in their work, and a feeling of belonging to the Land of Israel as they learn to care for the Eco-Farm’s gardens and animals as well as learn valuable skills such as woodworking and metal-working.
Click here to read more about Yemin Orde’s Eco-Farm.