Throughout  last year, the directors of the welfare and social services departments in the Southern District have attended a series of meetings on the subject of employment and welfare. A large majority of the participants are graduates of a training program for Directors that was held at the Mandel Center three years ago. In the course of the meetings, participants discussed the issue of the directors' role in leading employment promotion programs within their communities.

The third and final session was dedicated to different aspects of globalization and their effect on employment and welfare. Prof. Johnny Gal, Head of the School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University, reviewed the topic of employment and welfare from a historical perspective.  

Two programs for promoting employment and welfare were presented as examples for significant projects in the Negev: "Maavarim" in the rural communities sector and "Riyan" ("fertile soil" in Arabic) in the Bedouin sector in the Negev. Einat Madmon and Mahmoud al-Amour described (respectively) the ways in which these two programs deal with the ever-changing employment market, for instance by creating a social-economic environment that supports business ventures, advancing professional training programs and developing collaborations between employers and organizations.

The session was attended by Mr. Nahum Itzkovich, Director General of the Social Affairs Ministry. Mr. Itzkovich said that the subject of employment stands at the top of his ministry's agenda and that it is an important means towards social mobility, rehabilitation and the realization of the individual's self-fulfillment.

Mr. Israel Budik, Director of the Southern District, stressed the important role of welfare directors in promoting employment and welfare programs in their communities. Mr. Budik reported about a new and unique training program on employment for community social workers that will be held in cooperation with the TEVET Employment Initiative - a joint development of the Israeli Government and JDC Israel.

The Mandel Center is currently in discussions with the Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Services on plans to conduct future collaborations and activities on employment and various other issues.