Itzik Shriki, Youth Councillor in Hodayot Youth Village
“The best tool an educator can develop is to listen. Let the children find their voices. Listen carefully and you can really help them”
Itzik and his family live and work in Hodayot Youth Village for over 16 years.
“As a ‘house father’ my challenge is to coach individual teenagers how to live with up to 16 other kids in their group, and another 500 children in the village. It is not easy work, but as my family and I live in the same building as the kids, we are there for them around the clock. Students often come from troubled backgrounds. It is a real reward to see them succeed, knowing that should they ever need us the village is there for them for life. Many come back to work here and help other children.”