Bet Shemesh
Our flagship community, Beit Shemesh, is home to both our first center and our future permanent center in Gefen Park. Operated by Susan's House the center.
The Center serves youth at risk in the area , using a social enterprise model. This model takes a very positive and practical approach seeing the potential and capacity of the youth. It helps youth develop their self confidence at the same time as they learn all phases of the business cycle, from product development and production, to marketing to sales. The youth earn a salary throughout which helps them to redefine themselves as productive members of the community as well as to be more financially independent. Professional therapeutic support is available as needed.
The Wohl Q Center at Gefen Park In cooperation with The Wohl Foundation, the Q Center will house the Q café, the Q studio, Q Wood, and Q Tech (TBD). Each of these will operate as self-sustaining business units under the Quantum umbrella.
In addition, the center also will serve as a community hub for seniors and other populations, connecting them to each other and engaging them in social and recreational activities.
Q Centers The first Q Center is located in Beit Shemesh It was developed as a social enterprise, designed to be fully sustainable and self-sufficient after a period of start-up support.
The Center welcomes youth at risk who have dropped out of school or work, as well as the entire community to participate and engage.
The youth, referred by the municipal welfare department, are enrolled in the different workshop activities. They are supported financially by the local welfare department. The goal for the youth is to graduate from the program with portable life skills such as self confidence and self esteem, transferable business skills such as managing product development and budgets, and a personal direction that involves either education, employment or military services. The hope is that the future alumni will be productive, independent and self-confident contributing members of their families and communities.
Q café Q café will be the hub of the center welcoming people of all ages to socialize, and interact with each other as well as the youth. The youth will be responsible for all aspects of operating the café from behind the scenes in the kitchen and the office to serving customers in the café. They will learn to manage people and finances, handle orders, create and follow recipes. They will serve customers, learning how to handle both the satisfied and the less satisfied. All of these skills and experiences will prepare and position the youth for success with people and with business.
Q studio The Q studio will involve the youth in all aspects of the business cycle from designing and creating the ceramic products, to marketing and sales. The youth will learn how to manage, how to handle the finances, how to operate the equipment, how to work as a team, and how to interact with the public.
Q woodworks The Q wood works is similar to the Q studio with the additional benefit of learning the skills to do home repairs. The participants will learn to use carpentry equipment and build simple and later more complex projects like picnic tables and garden decks.
Q workshops Both the Q studio and the Q woodworks will offer workshops for the community at large.