FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR YOUTH AT RISK

18-year old Roni lives in Be’er Sheva with her single mother. They receive welfare payments and food baskets before the holidays. Roni’s Mom cannot cover her monthly household expenses and suffers from high blood pressure. Roni works on the weekends at a mini-market in order to bring more money home. Roni took the Chaim BePlus course at the Amal school in Be’er Sheva. Through the course, she discovered a few things: • She and her Mom can reduce their cellphone and internet bills as well as their bank charges. There also were some errors in the electricity bill. The total of these extraneous expenses came to around 500 NIS per month. • The mini-market owner wasn’t paying minimum wage. Roni met with him and explained what is coming to her by law. Added income – around 400 NIS per month. • After drafting an exact budget according to the instructions of the mentor, Roni realized that she is spending money on “going out” just because of peer pressure. The group in the Chaim BePlus class decided together that they are lowering the costs of their upcoming party and planning outings which are less expensive and also fun. Savings of around 300 NIS per month. The total improvement in Roni and her Mom’s situation – 1,200 NIS per month, thanks to Chaim BePlus. Families in the periphery like that of Roni seemingly do not have any way out or hope for a better economic future. Chaim BePlus believes that by giving tools and inculcating good responsible habits from an early age, it is possible to attain financial independence. The young mentors of Chaim BePlus are role models for our students, who often have never met anyone who is not in overdraft. The mentors show them how to handle their money properly, how to earn, manage, save, and achieve one’s goals and dreams. We are turning to you to donate in order to enable us to reach more students like Roni, and to give them the opportunity to get out of poverty and enjoy financial security.