British Ambassador to Israel, Tom Phillips, accepted Mayor Hofree’s invitation and arrived last week for a visit to Raanana, which included a special meeting with the members of the Youth Prize Association in Raanana, which is operated by the Youth and Young Adults Department. Mayor Hofree hosted the ambassador in his office and attending this meeting were also Deputy Mayor Aryeh Friedman, city council woman – Sima Perry – chair of the foreign relations committee.  Later, the British ambassador took a tour of the city and met with youth active in the Youth Prize Program at the HaMartef Club.

The Israel Youth Prize is an international program founded by the Duke of Edinburgh, implemented in 100 countries around the world.  It encourages youth to work toward achieving personal goals, while contributing to the community, strengthening the field of the love of Israel and history of Israel.

The activity in Raanana begins with the 8th graders and is conducted on an individual and group basis up to age 25.  The unique model that was developed in the city includes a weekly activity at the youth center and individual activity during their free time, assisted by youth counselors and coordinators.  Each year, over 70 children from Raanana participate in the program and this year, the program was expanded and a new special track was opened for 10th graders at Aviv High School.

At the warm meeting with the ambassador, the youth described their experiences, impressions, and the contribution they made while participating in the Youth Prize Program.  The ambassador praised the Raanana youth for their activity and emphasized the great personal contribution they receive as individuals alongside their own contribution to the community.  The meeting was attended by Mayor Nahum Hofree, Education Ministry’s Social and Youth Administration Director – Rafi Dahan; and the program’s supervisor, Itzik Ben Avi.

Last October, the ambassador presented 14 of the program’s graduates with a gold medal at a moving ceremony held at the British ambassador’s house.  The gold medal is the highest honor in the youth prize program and it is given to the group of program graduates for their ongoing activity for the past 4 years and their activity on behalf of their own progress and the advancement of the community at large.

Mayor Nahum Hofree:  “This is a source of great pride to see Raanana youth contributing both to themselves and to society and sticking with the program over a number of years.  Raanana sees this program as imparting a way of life, in which each one of the participants discovers his or her good and positive qualities and develops into an involved person and citizen dedicated to community activity.”

In the photo:  The Mayor, Ambassador Phillips and Raanana youth.  Photographer:  Avishai Klein.