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Through positive role modeling, the Big Brother Big Sister relationship has the capacity to eventually break the cycle of economic distress by exposing children to new experiences and models of living. Children come from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, without other positive role models, are at-risk of growing up into the same cycle of deprivation. Equipped with self-confidence and achievements gained through the mentor relationship, the Little Brother or Sister can hope for a brighter future with more promising opportunities.

Rather than continuing to open individual branches and matching and supporting new pairs through each branch, our "Community Teams Plus" project strives to partner with local organizations within economically distressed communities in order to best serve the needs of the local population of children and teens. For example, we are currently partnering with the prevention program "Perach B'gani" (translation: "Flower in My Garden") that was created to reduce risk behaviors among children and youth at-risk in the economically distressed geographic region of southern Tel Aviv. Together with the Department of Welfare and Educational Rehabilitation, and the Neve Eliezer Community Center, this program serves a wide catchment area. We are now able to provide long-term mentoring for children enrolled in the program - a powerful tool in preventing future risk behaviors among pre-risk and at-risk children and teens. The project includes a three part series of workshops on mentoring for potential volunteers. Working with local programs who are already familiar with the unique needs of their community allows BBBS to provide the necessary net of supplementary services that maximize the value, potential and longevity of the mentoring relationship from within the existing community infrastructure responsible.  

Since 2003, BBBS has been making a significant contribution to lonely children and teens, many of whom are pre-risk and at-risk, from isolated single parent families. These Little Brothers and Sisters are matched with dedicated, adult volunteer mentors (Big Brothers and Sisters) who meet together weekly in order to achieve a warm, supportive and long-lasting relationship. BBBS's activities take place throughout Jerusalem and central Israel. Of the over 650 pairs that were matched since the inception of BBBS, many of our pairs today have been meeting for over six, seven and eight years. Due to our high standards of professionalism, BBBS is the only accredited branch in the Middle East and one of twelve accredited organizations worldwide. In 2009, BBBS received the prestigious Mayor of Jerusalem's Award for Excellence in Volunteerism. Bestowed upon a very small group of organizations and individuals, the award is testimony to the importance and necessity of long-term mentoring for children and youth from single-parent families, and to our organization's ability to maintain high-quality volunteer experiences year after year.

a. “Hatch a Match” Project: Supporting matches of adult mentors with at-risk children from single parent families: Big and Little Brothers and Sisters meet weekly for at least two hours. In addition to their quality alone time, pairs receive the following enrichment, recreational and support activities through the "Hatch a Match” project: 1) “Fun Days”: Organized, recreational group activities such as holiday parties, trips to the zoo, to an archeological dig, etc.; 2) Personal Assistance Fund: a separate Fund which covers the costs of summer camps for our most destitute families; 4) Depending upon our resources, some volunteers receive remuneration for expenses associated with their weekly meetings. Once a friendship has been established between a “Big” and a “Little,” the major challenge for BBBS staff is nurturing and maximizing the benefits of that relationship for all concerned. To this end, a strategic follow-up plan includes regular, individual phone support for the Big Brothers and Sisters, in-service training and guidance as well as group supervision every two months with a professional in the field of mentoring.

b. The Tel Aviv municipality and the government of Israel partner with us in the "Perach B'gani" prevention program. Together with the Department of Welfare and Educational Rehabilitation of the Tel Aviv Municipality, the government of Israel's national program for at-risk youth and the Neve Eliezer Community Center, this program serves a wide catchment area in the economically distressed geographic region of southern Tel Aviv.

c. The Social Involvement Department of the Tel Aviv University partners with us and provides students who volunteer as Big Brothers and Sisters. We are working with ten volunteers this year.

d. We are in a new partnership with the Prisoner Rehabilitation Authority in order to provide Big Brothers and Sisters to the children of female prisoners and released female prisoners from the Neve Tirzah prison.

d. The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance partners with BBBS to match students receiving scholarships at the Academy with children from single parent families who are interested in learning music or dance. After being matched with a child, students instruct their Little Brothers or Sisters in the area that they would like to pursue.

e. The College for Academic Studies in Or Yehuda partners with BBBS to match students receiving scholarships at the College with children from single parent families. The municipality of Or Yehuda has entered into this partnership as well. 

Mission: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Israel (BBBS) empowers children and teens by providing them with individual attention and support through a meaningful, positive relationship with an adult volunteer, thereby contributing to the resiliency of Israeli society.

The need: A study on childhood and intergenerational poverty (Wagmiller and Adelman, 2009) showed that “social and economic deprivation during childhood and adolescence can have a lasting effect on individuals, making it difficult for children who grow up in low-income families to escape poverty when they become adults - thus the cycle of intergenerational poverty begins. Economically, it is a fact that children who are born poor are likely to remain poor." The intervention of a positive adult role model has the potential to impact on the life of a child by providing constant support and the tools to make healthier life choices that will allow him or her to eventually rise above the intergenerational cycle of poverty. This fact is supported by research and conventional wisdom that clearly show the positive impact of a long-term mentoring relationship on the life of a child. In fact, youth mentoring programs have served millions of young people all over the world since the turn of the last century. In a well-known study by sociologists Terry Williams and William Kornblum, "Growing up Poor," their results showed that "a key difference between successful and unsuccessful youth from lower-income urban communities was mentoring – the successful ones had mentors, and the unsuccessful ones did not." The "Community Teams Plus" project will help children and teens from economically distressed families invent a more promising future for themselves.

Goals and objectives

BBBS empowers children and teens in need of individual attention and support by providing them with adult volunteer mentors. We are constantly receiving feedback regarding the changes that transpire as these children move forward in life, serve in the army and choose to contribute to society. Our overall goal is to provide many more lonely children and teens with the love and care of a healthy adult role model by expanding our impact nationwide.

Measurable objectives

·       To provide three enrichment activities for the pairs at each new site as an organized group activity over the course of one year

·       To provide professional training and support to mentors, including bi-monthly group sessions, over the course of one year

Josh and Benny's story is a Jewish story that encompasses the uniqueness of the State of Israel as a melting pot of cultures. An American Jew that immigrated to Israel in the 1990's matched with an Ethiopian boy that immigrated to Israel in 2002.

Josh is 57 years old and married with three daughters. He owns a souvenir shop in the old city of Jerusalem and is a responsible family man with a good heart. Benny is almost Bar Mitzvah age – the oldest of two children. His parents are divorced and the children have no contact with the father. His mother is young and ambitious and works very hard cleaning houses. Josh and Benny were matched in June 2011 and since then, their relationship has grown and today, they are very close. Benny is very quiet and introverted and has learning disabilities. Josh and Benny's relationship was meaningful from the moment that they met. Josh is a lovely person who gives Benny a lot of freedom while participating with him in new experiences that Benny has never had such as riding bikes, going to museums, eating dinner together and going on trips together. Josh and his wife are involved in Benny's family life. They visited Benny's mother at her home before the holidays and they invite the whole family for holiday meals at their house.