No one chooses a life of crime or abuse without some underlying rationale. Most at-risk youth are challenged on many levels – they are often from poor or dysfunctional families; suffer from a severe lack of self esteem and/or feel estranged from mainstream society. Temptations of an affluent society are everywhere, in particular during adolescence, a known period of immense emotional turmoil. Some
disturbing statistics: Over the past decade the number of at-risk youth in Israel has grown by 48%. More than 50,000 teens dropped out of high school between 2009 and 2010 (the National Council for the protection of children). Drug and alcohol abuse and the crimes that they bring about have escalated. The percentage of youth who abuse substances has grown by 50% since 1989 (Israel Anti Drug Authority). Learn & Return was established in 2009 to confront these challenges. Centers operate in cooperation with local government agencies that help support Learn & Live. Municipal welfare agencies send teens to our Centers, and donate the premises for most of our locations.
