By Tali Erez | Project Manager
The Galgal Day Care Center in Jerusalem and Someone to Run With in Tel Aviv, are projects of ELEM- Youth in Distress in Israel, provide support and assistance for homeless at-risk youth aged 18-26 with the aim of providing a basic humanitarian solution - food, hot showers, laundry, clothing and medical services. The project consists of two drop-in centers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in addition to two transitional apartments for rehabilitation in Tel Aviv. The drop-in centers operate during the evening hours, conducts regular outreach and contact with homeless youth, and provides personal mentoring including activities outside the center such as accompaniment to medical care, etc.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 800,000 of Israel's population are aged 12-18, about a quarter of who are living in various conditions of distress. Those at-risk youth who are attracted from the periphery to the main cities often fall prey to negative street culture influences and find themselves homeless, often living in abandoned buildings and on the street, abusing drugs on a regular basis and becoming detached from all supportive systems- therapeutic, familial and social services.
How will this project solve this problem?
Immediate front-line assistance for homeless and youth in distress through the provision of basic humanitarian needs including warm meals, showers, laundry services and clothes. The centers offer youth, even for a few hours, a welcoming and accepting shelter from street life and provides them with access to computers and internet, books, games, and individual and group activities. This immediate front-line assistance minimizes risks that life on the street entails for the young adults and amongst other things, offers emotional support and medical care.
Potential Long Term Impact
The centers provide a sympathetic ear and builds a positive relationship based on trust as the basis for a long term intervention. After attending to their basic needs, each youth is assisted in building an individual rehabilitative plan- taking into account their unique difficulties, abilities, and aspirations. The center personally guides youth and monitors their process of rehabilitation while working in cooperation with community and welfare services. In cases where there is motivation for change, the young adults are also given the opportunity to take part in a long-term therapeutic and rehabilitative process through the transitional apartments.
What is happening in Galgal and Someone to Run with Now?
In the last three months large amount of energy and focus on intense streetwork- routinely sending out groups with volunteers every week to find and identify those youth in need.
In total 261 young adults attended the project and the transitional apartments, of which 50 were new youth.
The last three month were characterized by a gradual increase of young adult who visit the project.
231 boys and 30 girls.
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