Be-Atzmi

-About Be-Atzmi- Be-Atzmi is a nonprofit social organization which, for over two decades, has been integrating and advancing low- opportunity populations in stable and fair employment suited to their skills and aspirations. We develop and run a variety of long-term employment programs in 147 locations, totaling 90 towns and cities throughout Israel. About 17,000 women and men take part in these programs every year, including families known to social services, new immigrants from Ethiopia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, members of the ultra-Orthodox community, members of the Arab sector, single mothers, people over the age of 40, and others.The employment programsBy joining the employment programs, which typically last a year, the participants embark on a journey that results in a profound and far-reaching change in their lives. They examine their abilities, desires, inclinations and the employment barriers they face. They boost their self-confidence and self-efficacy, and plan a career path that is consistent with their needs and preferences.Supported by Be-Atzmi professionals, the participants take steps to achieve their aspirations, while acquiring the job qualifications they lack (language skills, years of schooling, computer literacy, etc.). The participants receive a variety of practical tools that help them look for and hold on to a job.The participants, without exception, are not required to pay for the programs, which are funded thanks to the partnerships we have forged with the public, philanthropic and corporate sectors.Activities in the family and the communityIn addition to guiding the participants, Be-Atzmi also works with their families and communities. Because the families have a considerable impact on and are greatly affected by the employment change process, they too are guided throughout the process. For example, they are given tools to better manage the family budget, develop a family support system and, on occasion, both adults in the family receive coaching.Our activities in the community help sustain the success of the employment process by building community-based mechanisms that foster employment – for example, a network of employers that help the participants find jobs, self-help programs for graduates, volunteer mentors who work with graduates, etc.Activities in the social and public spheresBe-Atzmi is active in a number of social and public spheres that have an impact on advancing employment among low-opportunity populations. Those activities include taking part in public committees, developing employment-facilitating services for public and social agencies, initiating and building cross-sector partnerships, providing training in academic frameworks and courses to advance the occupational social work profession, and more.