The families of the evacuees in Israel need your help!
Amidst a crisis that has seen over 200,000 Israelis displaced, many families are facing extreme difficulties. In Kiryat Shmona, the largest city in northern Israel, 3.5km from Lebanon's border, over 22,000 residents have been evacuated and are staying in 230 different hotels throughout the country. They are facing an uncertain future, and with the likelihood of an imminent war in that region, tens of thousands of families are not expected to return to their homes for many months to come.
During times of crisis, children are always the most vulnerable. Displaced children have been uprooted from their homes (they were given only one hour to pack), friends, and close community and are struggling to adapt to their new circumstances. With no after school programs to keep them occupied, they are left feeling bored, restless, and adrift. Not surprisingly, the effect on their mental health is noticeable and increasing by the day. The lack of structure and routine combined with the uncertainty of the future has turned into a sense of hopelessness and despair.
During the summer months when school is not in session, ITEC would like to offer displaced children from Kiryat Shmona a 4-week summer day camp program at ITEC Ramat Hasharon and ITEC Tiberias, providing them an opportunity to find moments of normalcy and joy during this time of adversity. In addition to daily tennis and fitness instruction, each week children will participate in group empowerment sessions focusing on resilience building, mindfulness, and emotional regulation to support their mental health.
We hope you will consider supporting this transformative summer camp program, because every child in Israel deserves a chance to learn, play, and grow.
The Toronto community, led by Yifaht Korman, Israeli Canadian Clinical Psychologist, raised funds to develop a structured after school program for displaced children from Kiryat Shmona at ITEC Ramat Hasharon, with the program running Monday, May 19th through to the end of June.
