Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

Sha’ar HaNegev’s Department of Social Services has developed a unique vision aimed at improving the resilience of their inhabitants.

During Operation Cast Lead, the Reut Institute’s Home Front Team visited Sha’ar Ha Negev Regional Council meeting with Marva Meizels and Dror Meyuhas from the municipality’s Department of  Social services.

In recent years, considering Hamas rocket attacks of Southern Israel, this department has developed a unique vision. The vision – local in its kind – aims at improving the quality of life of the inhabitants, especially their resilience in both times of emergency and routine.

This approach is  an example of how to implement a ‘Culture of Preparedness’, since it promotes and enhances important values such as citizen action, partnerships, and governance and puts them into the wider context of preparedness for emergencies. Such a culture is essential for strengthening citizens’ resilience.

People in the Sha’ar Ha Negev Regional Council believe that the realization of their local vision requires inclusion of the population in the policy planning processes. Therefore, the Regional Council encourages its population to take an active role in designing their environment through special projects such as the one for the regional development (see the Dolphins Project).