SOLO Pizza Pie was founded at the initiative of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security, together with the “Shakol Tov” group and the welfare departments of the municipalities in which it operates, employing boys and girls aged 15 to 18.
The social initiative is already operating in Petah Tikva, and recently a new branch was inaugurated in the city center of Netanya. By the end of the year, two more branches are expected to open, and the group hopes to expand the network to additional cities throughout the country.
"This is the first time I feel that someone trusts me at work," says one of the teenagers. "I am learning to cook, to serve customers, and also to understand how to handle money and prepare for future jobs. It gives me a feeling that I can succeed."
The boys and girls working in the pizzerias take part in various jobs in the kitchen, at the register, and in customer service. At the same time, they receive practical training in many subjects such as managing a bank account, reading a payslip, saving, writing a resume, and preparing for job interviews. In this way, the initiative serves not only as a workplace but also as a learning space and preparation for adult life.
"The exciting social initiative of the Welfare Administration, the Ministry of Welfare, and the 'Shakol Tov' group is part of a broad array of programs in the city for youth of all kinds. It is the result of unique, innovative, and creative collaborations. Our youth is our future, and investing in them is important to me personally and for the future of the city and the country," said the Mayor of Netanya, Mrs. Miriam Feirberg-Ikar, after the opening of the new branch in the city.
The special initiative operates within the framework of the Matarim project of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security and was established by the “Shakol Tov” group, which leads the support and rehabilitation of about 9,000 people with disabilities and their integration into the workforce and society. Now the group is expanding its activity to additional populations, including at-risk youth.
Alongside employment, each branch also runs a youth club, providing teenagers with a supportive framework accompanied by a professional team that includes a social worker, counselors, and educators. The boys and girls receive personal guidance, a stable and supportive environment, and a sense of belonging and security.
Ronit Dush, the district supervisor at the Rehabilitation, Support and Prevention Administration of the Ministry of Welfare: "The employment Matar project is part of a perception that views employment as a primary rehabilitative tool. We provide teenagers who have dropped out or are on the verge of dropping out of educational frameworks with an opportunity to integrate into a normative setting, experience success, and acquire meaningful skills for their future."
Ofer Cohen, CEO of the “Shakol Tov” group: "The initiative enables us to reach at-risk youth, provide them with a developmental employment framework, and accompany them in everything they need in order to succeed professionally and personally. The opening of the new branches is part of a broader vision of making services accessible, creating new opportunities, and leading social change."