Hashomer Youth Movement
Background
In recent years, HaShomer movement identified a significant gap in the educational and values-based opportunities available to young people attending public schools in urban areas, particularly in underserved communities. While the movement’s traditional rural model has proven successful over the years, it became clear that it was not fully suited to urban realities, where young people face different needs, critical developmental transitions, and weaker connections to informal education frameworks. Historically, the movement operated primarily in rural communities, kibbutzim, and moshavim, serving young people who often had an existing connection to its activities and values. Expanding into urban areas required more than adapting the existing model. It meant reaching new audiences from socially disadvantaged communities, many of whom had no prior familiarity with the movement. These insights led to the development of the Urban Youth Movement Center model, which brings together identity, leadership development, and community engagement in an urban setting.
The Challenge
Many young people in urban areas do not participate in youth movements, with a significant drop in engagement in informal education programs during the transition from elementary to middle school. Past experience has shown that without strong partnerships with local authorities, schools, and communities, and without adapting programs to the unique characteristics of each city, it is difficult to build a stable base of young leaders and ensure long-term growth.
The Opportunity
The new model aims to establish an urban educational and community hub, beginning with teenagers and gradually expanding to younger children. By providing a dedicated meeting space, a strong educational mentor, community-based activities, and close partnerships with local authorities, the initiative seeks to develop local youth leadership that will drive the movement’s activities and establish a lasting tradition of informal education in urban communities. The opportunity supported by the Taib Foundation goes beyond geographic expansion. It represents a significant demographic shift for Hashomer Youth Movement, expanding its reach from traditionally rural and kibbutz-based communities to underserved urban populations. This is a strategic transformation in the movement’s identity and approach, rather than simply an operational expansion of its local branches.
Objectives
To establish a sustainable urban model for Hashomer Youth Movement that engages young people across different age groups, reduces dropout rates during key educational transitions, develops local youth leadership, and expands participation in values-based informal education. Another key objective is to broaden the movement’s reach beyond its traditional rural communities to include underserved urban populations. At the same time, the initiative aims to strengthen young people’s sense of identity, civic responsibility, and community engagement in Israel’s peripheral cities.
Course of Action
he project follows a gradual implementation process spanning three to five years. The first phase focuses on establishing an urban youth center that serves as a welcoming hub for teenagers. Over time, a local youth leadership group is developed to lead community activities, mentoring, and volunteering initiatives. The model is built on strong partnerships with local authorities, schools, parents, and the wider community. It also includes tailored educational approaches, staff training, knowledge management, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of participant recruitment, retention, and impact.
Impact
The project aims to implement the Urban Youth Movement Center model in four existing cities and expand to three additional cities. It is expected to train at least 40 young people for leadership roles, reduce dropout rates during key age transitions by approximately 30%, and support dozens of local community initiatives. A key measure of success will be the proportion of participants from underserved urban communities who have no prior connection to Hashomer Youth Movement, providing a direct indication of the model’s ability to reach new audiences. In the long term, the model aims to establish thriving youth communities and develop local leaders who will independently sustain and lead the movement’s activities.
What We’ve Learned
The development process builds on Hashomer Youth Movement’s previous experience in urban communities, which highlighted the importance of engaging teenagers from the outset, building strong partnerships with local authorities and communities, and adapting the model to local needs and realities. Ongoing evaluation will focus on long-term participant retention, the development of participants’ identity and leadership skills, the strength of local partnerships, and the level of community engagement. This will combine internal monitoring and evaluation with external professional assessment.