Rather than offering at-risk youth help, we ask them to help others. And it works! Street kids that joined and formed Youth Giving Units (סיירות חסד) in their underserved neighborhoods became agents of change in their communities assisting hundreds of others in need, all the while positively turning their own lives around. As evidence, 90% of youth who partake in our program refrain from future criminal activity, and many continue on to graduating from school, enlisting in IDF and becoming productive, caring and involved members of society.
Today, there are 20 S.A.H.I. youth-led Secret Giving Squads with about 500 Israeli youth participating in weekly sessions of learning, gathering and engaging in acts of giving. The youth form, initiate and lead Secret Giving Units, working together in their own communities by initiating acts of giving to others in-need. With the growing number of at-risk youth members consistently getting involved with S.A.H.I, help and food is distributed every week to more than 1,500 needy individuals all around Israel, including Jerusalem, Ashkelon, Lachish, Kiryat Gat, and Merhavim. In 2015 S.A.H.I. was proud to engage its first group of 200 graduates that have returned to their communities and wish to continue ‘doing good’ as young adults. Recently, S.A.H.I. was recognized by the Ministry of Education as an at-risk youth program for municipalities to include in their accredited city programming plans.
In 2016-17 S.A.H.I. plans to expand to new constituents and locations, all the while strengthening the organizational infrastructure and base to ensure sustainable growth. Based on a tailored pilot we will work with at-risk Haredi youth; Design a national program for our growing base of graduates; Streamline our food distribution component by establishing ties with businesses and NGO’s and more.

S.A.H.I.’s strategic tri-sector cooperative model establishes new presence and Youth Giving Units in neighborhoods that are targeted by the municipality and community, based on dire social problems and needs. The model integrates the Municipality's buy-in with S.A.H.I.'s strength-based approach and philanthropic partners towards the establishment of new Youth Giving Units. Our Jerusalem-based program is a good example, exponentially growing with over 70 young volunteers, a 25% increase in number of participants, and 100 active graduates that enlisted with the IDF or are working members of society. Recognizing the impact that the Youth Giving Units have on their entire neighborhoods, the city of Jerusalem is a fully invested and proactive partner.