The Israeli sphere of action of Topaz – developing, testing, and embedding models of social innovation
40+
Social initiatives established
2000
Founded
The Incubator for Social and Educational Innovation
The local sphere of Topaz International is the Israeli sphere of action in which models of social, educational, therapeutic, and rehabilitative innovation are developed, tested, and embedded.
This is the sphere in which Topaz operates, through its incubator for educational and social innovation and additional impact initiatives, in order to cultivate responses to deep challenges in Israeli society – from post-trauma, through work with children and youth at risk, to the rehabilitation of prisoners, families in crisis, and stigmatized and marginalized populations. In this sphere, the organization does not confine itself to developing ideas, but initiates, accompanies, and embeds programs that combine professionalism, innovation, and partnership with municipalities, government ministries, and public and community bodies.
The local sphere is not only the organization’s “Israeli sphere,” but also its central development laboratory. It is here that models are built, conditions for implementation are clarified, and applied knowledge accumulates, feeding the entire system.
This is also the sphere in which Topaz’s conception of social entrepreneurship as a lever for shaping a more civic, democratic, equal, and engaged society is perhaps most clearly realized.
Working Model
Every Topaz initiative follows a structured path from identifying the challenge to systemic embedding in public systems
Identify
Develop
Test
Embed
A Legacy of Action
This sphere is grounded in the historical conception of Topaz Israel as a center for social entrepreneurship and innovation, and as an incubator for impactful social ventures and social enterprises. Within this framework, more than forty social initiatives have been established, many of which currently operate as independent nonprofit organizations.
From this sphere emerged, among others, the “Musut” School in Jaffa, “Mosaic” for adoptive families, the “Screens” School in Or Yehuda, and later also broader impact initiatives, built with the explicit intention of being embedded within the state’s education, welfare, and health services.
From 2017 onward, the trend of developing models that can be integrated into regular public systems and secure public funding and institutional stability has become especially pronounced.
25+
Years
40+
Initiatives
Active Initiatives
An integrative community model for children and parents in situations of separation and divorce – connecting emotional support, an educational framework, and partnership with welfare systems.
A program for developing social and emotional skills among youth at risk, incorporating innovative tools and work with educational and community teams.
An acceleration track for social entrepreneurs in early development stages, providing professional guidance, mentoring, and practical support for the maturation of impact initiatives.
