המכינה הקדם צבאית עז שלמה, ע''ש מרן הרב הראשי האלוף הרב שלמה גורן זצ''ל (ע''ר)

- “From Risk to Opportunity” The Mechina Program of the Northern Negev - "OZ SHLOMO" was established in June 2002 in the development town of Kiryat Malachi with the goal of creating a revolution in education and values among graduates of state religious high schools in the peripheries and poor inner-city neighborhoods. We are witness to the phenomenon of thousands of high school graduates from these schools not fulfilling their innate potential, i.e., not doing a meaningful military service, not continuing their education, and generally, not being motivated to become better as individuals or as Jews.Our students hail from Israel’s weakest socio-economic sectors, and did not grow up in environments that promoted the development of their abilities and ambitions. The common denominator they all share is that they arrive at the Mechina from a very low starting point and over the course of the year (or year and a half), develop and progress so that by the time they leave they are transformed into idealistic, values-driven young men who seek to contribute to others and to their country. Hence, we describe our program as a process of moving From Risk to Opportunity.