Last week, the Stage Two (military service) young adults of the “Partners for the Road” Program met at the Lamerhav House in Beer Sheva. They took part in a preparatory meeting towards the end of the year, dealing with “Back to Childhood.” The meeting was led by Efrat and Chen (specializing in criminology) and Noa, the National Service girl.
The period of the military service is a complex time for many young adults. It is particularly complex for young adults, who lack a family support network. The “Partners for the Road” program provides a supportive and stable framework that enables the young adults to meet the challenges of the period in an easier and better way. Throughout the year, the group of soldiers meets on a monthly basis and also receives individually tailored guidance and support. The group guidance includes focused guidance, activities with relevant content, sharing different experiences from the service and meaningful discussions.
The “Back to Childhood” session is one of the last group meetings this year, and signifies the meaningful group process that the soldiers have undergone. At the meeting, the young adults summarized—with the help of a deck of cards and a social game called “pass the parcel”—how they were in their childhood and at present. The young adults shared their feelings how once they were free and carefree, and that today they were trying to integrate between their military service and social life while thinking about the future (what do we want to be?). This was a moving experience for everyone!
The “Partners for the Road” Program is a joint initiative of Lamerhav and the Municipality of Beer Sheva. This is a unique, long-term program designed to provide support for young adults who are at-risk or lack a family support network, through in-depth personal mentorship and group support, in a way that will ensure their integration into the Israeli economy as equal and productive citizens, who no longer require state support.
