This study was carried out by Michlol- the Evaluation and Measurement Unit of the Shalem Fund

In 2017 Shalem Fund published public reader’s voice for development of social ventures in the regional councils. Following the referral, 8 unique social projects were developed in the regional councils. The objectives of the current evaluation were to study the mechanism underlying the issuing of social ventures to people with intellectual developmental disabilities in the regional councils, as well as to study on is success and contribution of the social ventures
The evaluation report shows the reference to the projects from a number of points of view- the project managers, participants in the projects (with or without disabilities), the family members and the activity guides. In addition, the representatives of the regional councils who tried to develop ventures but eventually did not develop as well as the representatives of the regional councils that did not answer to the reader’s voice, were heard
The findings presented in this report indicate a significant contribution of the social initiatives for the various and diverse audiences that have been assessed. In addition, the findings indicate the strength and contribution of the community integration – both for the disabled and non disabled population and the community itself – in aspects of awareness, giving or receiving, perceptual change towards the population with disabilities, and the improvement of the sense of security in the community area. Another important finding indicates the indirect contribution of the projects to the regional councils themselves, both in terms of discourse within the councils team’s and in the creation of collaborations, and in terms of positioning the councils
This assessment enables to learn about the needs, barriers and challenges that accompanied the development of the ventures, as well as how to deal with the challenges – so that this knowledge can be used in the future to develop new social ventures

To read the full findings report in Hebrew press here
To read the executive summary in Hebrew press here
To view the summarizing presentation of results in Hebrew press here

Key Words
Leisure, Community integration, Research, evaluation and measurement, People with intellectual developmental disabilities, Shalem Fund study