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“Matzpen-Tech”: A Program for Young Adults’ Employment Integration

“Matzpen-Tech” is a program aimed at young men and women from the Arab sector (ages 18–24) who are oriented towards employment and are not currently engaged in any educational or employment framework.

“Matzpen-Tech” is a program run by the Ministry of Labor and “AJEEC – NISPED,” in collaboration with the Tamar Association, Moona – A Space for Change, and local authorities. The program was established in order to provide participants with:

  • Tools and soft skills for the workforce, such as: spoken Hebrew language studies, financial management, job searching, self-presentation, and workplace rights.
  • Professional training with employment prospects and guidance until employment integration.
  • A framework of emotional and mental support provided by social workers and professionals.

In other words, the program provides a holistic solution for integration into stable and quality employment, enabling participants to maximize their skills and realize their potential.

The reasons why young people from the Arab sector are not in educational or employment frameworks are varied and are often related to low proficiency in Hebrew, lack of academic and employment prospects, a sense of alienation, lack of financial resources to fund education, physical distance and inadequate transportation infrastructure, lack of career guidance, and more.

In the “Matzpen-Tech” program, participants acquire and develop personal and employment skills, gain professional qualifications required for the job market, enhance their sense of self-efficacy, and increase their level of engagement and sense of belonging to the community.

The program is now in its second year and currently operates in the following locations: Rahat, Be’er Sheva, Kuseife, Kafr Qasim, Baqa, Umm al-Fahm, Nazareth, and Yafia, with plans to expand to additional locations across the country. The program operates in an intensive format, including five study days per week, eight hours per day, for approximately six months. The intensity of the program, both in terms of content and the extensive weekly study hours, serves as preparation for participants for the workforce and helps them adapt to the workload and long days similar to what they can expect later when they integrate into employment. The program’s content is delivered in an experiential and diverse manner, taking into account the needs and personal characteristics of the participants. Upon completion of the program, participants continue to receive guidance for an additional year, until they enter the workforce and even afterward, to assist them in a smoother and easier transition into employment and to address any barriers or difficulties that may arise along the way.

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