The "Shalhevet" Outreach Program

Please note: if you have any questions specifically concerning the Shalhevet Program or if you know of similar programs elsewhere, please email directly to the Program Coordinator Lt.-Col. Debbie Sagi.

• The Program's Objectives
  
  Most projects the IPS deals with are obviously projects aimed first of all towards the prisoners, whether to improve their education, to teach professional skills, to free them of drug addictions etc.

  
  One project however is different from all of these. It's called the "Shalhevet" program. It's prime aim is to help high school kids stay away from drugs, by confronting them, in their class rooms, with prisoners who tell them how at young age they got drawn into drug use and later became addicts and criminals. The prisoners participating in the project are all previous drug addicts, who went through the drug-rehabilitation program in the Ha-Sharon prison, and are now free of drugs.
  
  

• The Start of the Project
  
  In july 1996 the Minister of Public Security, in charge of the IPS, visited the Ha-Sharon Drug Rehabilitation Prison.
  In this Prison, one of the largest drug rehabilitation centers in the world, 350 beds are available for prisoners that have expressed their will to kick off drugs. A large highly professional multi disciplinary staff including doctors, psychologists, social workers and teachers help the prisoners, first to overcome the severe physical effects of drug abstention and than educating them in different ways (customized to the different types of prisoners) to strengthen their self esteem and their will to start a new life without drugs.
  The Minister spoke to a group of prisoners that went succesfully through the program and then suggested they might want to do something to help schoolkids stay away from drugs. His suggestion was accepted immediately and enthousiastically by the prisoners and the Minister ordered the IPS to initiate and plan the project on short notice.
  
  
• Planning the Program
  
  
  It was decided that the program in front of the high school classes would be approximately two hours long, devided in three main parts:
  The first part is a 15 minute play by two prisoners acting one of several plots available: an argument between a father and his son, a drug user trying to convince his friend to join him etc.
  The second part is a half hour monologue by one prisoner telling in detail his life story: the family situation he grew up in, how he first took to using drugs, how he told himself "he could stop whenever he'd choose", how he became an addict, how he became a criminal in order to pay for the drugs.
  The third part is Questions and Answers between the prisoners and the school kids, guided by the IPS professionals accompanying the prisoners and the teachers of the school.
  
  
• The Implementation of the Program
  
  To get the program off the ground a senior officer, Lt.-Col. Debbie Sagi, was appointed as coordinator.
  The most suiting prisoners were selected, by criteria of fluency of speech, ability to stand in front of an audience etc. 16 such prisoners were found.
  Then a stage director was hired who taught the prisoners stage techniques that would make the 15 minute play look professional and real and make the monologue (the TRUE life story of the specific prisoner) come over more strongly and with the right emphasis.
  In full cooperation with the Ministry of Education a High School was selected for the pilot presentation and after several rehearsals in the Sharon Prison the first real presentation was made in front of 16 year olds.
  
  The project was an instant result.
  The feedback from the students was very positive. They stressed that the many lectures given to them by teachers, professionals and police representatives did not hit home because they represent the establishment, against whom the teenagers often want to revolt. However the prisoners managed to get the message through because they themselves had been through it all and could, better than any professional, explain through the eyes of the youngsters how they at the age of their audience got drawn into drugs, ruining their lives.
  The prisoners also stress in their monologue that they are amongst the few lucky ones who managed (so far) to overcome drugs in prison, while most of their friends died of overdoses or are so deep in drugs they see no way ever getting out.
  
  
  
• The Project Today
  
  Under the continued guidance of Lt.-Col. Debbie Sagi the project is gaining momentum and many schools have already been visited.
  Teams comprising 2 prisoners and IPS personnel travel around the country, especially in the central districts. The feedback is so positive that the demands from schools for a visit from the Shalhevet teams far exceed the number of teams available.
  Also the prisoners participating in the project report that their participation gives them a great sense of satisfaction and pride, since for the first time they feel they make an important contribution to society.
  
  
• The Name Shalhevet
  
  The name Shalhevet was also given by the Minister for Internal Security.
  It is an acronym of the first letters of the Hebrew words: "Sharon Limeniyat Ha-samim Be-bet-sefer Tichon" meaning: Sharon [Prison] for the Prevention of Drugs in High School". In addition, the word "shalhevet" is also an existing Hebrew word meaning "flame". This meaning too, is symbolic, as the prisoners in the project carry the flame of warning amongst the youth.
  

  ---

  [Home] [Feedback]