New program aims to reach ‘invisible girls’ before they drop out of school

The Israeli Social Platform has opened applications for Merhavia, a school-based program to identify and support girls at risk of dropping out of state-religious schools. The initiative aims to reach 'invisible girls' whose disconnection goes unnoticed, providing screening, training, and targeted assistance before they leave.

The Israeli Social Platform, a nonprofit formerly known as Yedidut Toronto, has opened applications for Merhavia, a school-based program to identify and support girls at risk of dropping out of state-religious schools. The organization told The Jerusalem Post that a specific aim is to prevent those girls from gravitating toward hilltop youth. The initiative seeks to identify 'invisible girls' whose difficulties go unnoticed as their connection to school weakens. Participating schools would assess all students with a screening tool, train staff, and provide targeted assistance to 25-30 girls per school through individual plans and small-group sessions addressing emotional, social, and educational needs. Support extends to families with up to 10 guidance sessions. Applications are open to schools serving grades 7-12 or 9-12, with a November 15 deadline.