Pupils in the WIZO Nachlat Yehuda Youth Village in Rishon Lezion left their pressures, fears and doubts, which characterize the period of matriculation examinations, behind them today and took the matriculation examination on animals – the rearing of beef and poultry.  Formulas, equations and history were taken over by milking cows, feeding chickens and working in the cowshed and poultry run at WIZO Nachlat Yehuda.

The matriculation was part of the framework of the course in agriculture and life sciences in which pupils in the youth village learn as a full matriculation subject.  At a time when most pupils are studying matriculations in computers, working on facebook – the pupils at Nachlat Yehuda are becoming experts in agriculture, raising stock.  They begin their work at 5.00 am by milking cows, collecting eggs and producing organic fertilizer.

WIZO Nachlat Yehuda operates an active farm within the framework of its study program, with a cowshed that boasts the best production technology, a poultry run, a petting corner and the pupils carry out research as part of their learning programs in the various branches.

The jewel in the crown at WIZO Nachlat Yehuda is an environmental project, one of the only ones in the country, for the production of organic fertilizer wholly based upon using the excretions of the animals and mixed with worms.  Special red worms break down the excretions of the chickens and cows into high quality, organic fertilizer, which is being sold to Israeli agriculturists.

The production of the fertilizer, using worms, is a developed system in the world, mainly in North and South America, but few use the system in Israel.  The final result is of high quality, better than that of compost, and is becoming popular in the local market.

After the running in period the organic fertilizer plant, the pupils in Nachlat Yehuda began to work according to a business formula, with impressive results.  Each month the plan supplies 30 tons of organic fertilizer which is sold to Israeli agriculture.  All the income is channeled back into the youth village in order to improve the learning conditions of the pupils.

Professor Rivka Lazovsky, Chairperson of the World WIZO Executive:  The purpose of agricultural studies in to provide the pupils with the love for the land of Israel, a contribution to society and respect for animals.

Four hundred and thirty pupils learn in the youth village, 230 of them live in the dormitory, and the remainder arrive from across the city of Rishon Lezion and learn with the framework of a long school day which includes courses and extra tutoring until the evening hours.

WIZO Nachlat Yehuda is known for its professional song and dance troupes, which perform throughout the country, and abroad before Jewish communities strengthening fundraising bonds with Israel.