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As a new immigrant from the U.S. and a first-year student at Tel Aviv University, having just made aliya from Los Angeles, I was looking for a job with meaning. I found Zionism 2000, or perhaps they found me.
They say every bottle has its cap, and from the very first interview I felt as though I had found mine as a facilitator for Zionism 2000's Alternative anti-drug program. The position brought me face to face with Israeli youth and enabled me to converse with them at eye level about several profound and controversial issues from which drug problems stem, such as peer pressure, low self esteem, lack of excitement and a lack of vision and direction.
The job became an awakening experience. For example, I learned drugs have no geographical or class preference - they’re everywhere and ready for the taking. From the best to the worst neighborhoods and schools, today’s youths are facing the same temptations, disappointments, hardships and pressures that many times lead them to drugs.
Through Alternative, I was able to gain the trust of and reach many of these teenagers. I not only gave them the hard facts about today’s drugs, but also was able to really conduct an honest dialogue, openly and confidentially. These kids were willing to listen and they had many questions to which I was happy to provide honest answers.
From time to time one of them would stay behind to ask questions about “a close friend” who was in trouble with drugs. They wanted to know how to help. One boy in particular comes to mind. He was physically smaller than the other boys his age, skinny, glasses - your typical bookworm and the last person you’d suspect had a drug problem. He stayed behind after the session to speak with me and admitted his drug use while alone in his room or trying to concentrate while studying. The information I gave him about the physiological sabotage caused by these drugs was enough to make him want to stop. The fact that this boy was using alone - unlike many teenagers who smoke grass socially, for example - made me realize this was a golden opportunity, a potential point of no return if you will, unless someone intervened. I happened to be the person he turned to at that very moment and I feel I may have made a difference, maybe even potentially saved a life.
I’m sure there are many similar cases and I have to wonder, who will save them? Zionism 2000 can’t be everywhere all of the time, yet there are those lucky individuals who stepped onto the Alternative Bus and changed their lives forever.
If I was able to reach at least one student from every session and motivated him or her to think and learn to ask the right questions, I feel I’ve done my duty as a Zionism 2000 link to the outside world.
Roni Simon
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