Budget for youth movements to increase three-fold in 2009

By ABE SELIG
Citing their "great contribution to Israeli society," Education Minister Yuli Tamir announced on Sunday that NIS 85 million will be allocated to youth movements in Israel as part of the 2009 budget. The amount, which is nearly three times the budget given to youth movements when Tamir became Education Minister in 2006, is also the largest amount ever allocated to such groups. Tamir announced the additional increase in the budget during the cabinet meeting on Sunday. "Over the last two years, the Education Ministry has invested great effort into the strengthening of youth movements in Israel and to return them to the center stage of public education," Tamir said in a statement released Sunday. The Education Ministry will also introduce "Youth Movement Week," to be held from September 21-26 as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen youth movement participation and support. In a letter sent to school principals around the country, the education minister also asked that educational staff encourage young people to join youth groups, stressing their importance in both the private and public sector, and their role as educational organizations that give young people an extra push to succeed. "The budget increase is a result of the great contribution youth movements have given to the private sector, the community and society in general, and of course the unique place they hold as educational organizations that work to strengthen young people. "It was because of this that the Council of Youth Movements won the Israel Prize in 2008, and we hope to continue their patterns of success in the future," the statement said.