By IsraAID Israel Emergency Mission | IsraAID Israel Emergency Mission
IsraAID has stood side-by-side with dozens of displaced and grieving communities in Israel since October 7, 2023. One of these is Mishor Hagefen, a neighborhood in Ofakim where dozens of civilians lost their lives and survivors hid for more than 24 hours. Residents faced grief and trauma, and needed professional support to feel safe in their homes again. The sole resilience center serving Ofakim's 30,600 residents could not meet the rising need for psychosocial support.
In response, IsraAID partnered with Ofakim Municipality and the Israeli Center for Psychoanalysis to create Gfanim Therapeutic Center. Gfanim offers 60 hours of therapy each week to individuals, families, and small groups free of charge. Beyond treatment, Gfanim has become a vital space for the community to relax and connect. Its peaceful gardens and children's play zones welcome everyone, including those who seek comfort, connection, or a sense of stability without accessing formal therapy. Local businesses and experts play a key role in Gfanim’s success, fostering community connections and sustainability at every opportunity.
At our partners' request, IsraAID is now extending the project through 2025, and handing over the tools to sustain Gfanim long-term. With residents deeply involved from the start, Gfanim will remain a cornerstone of Mishor Hagefen’s ongoing resilience.
Meanwhile, displaced communities from northern Israel are returning to widespread destruction and ongoing insecurity amid a fragile ceasefire. IsraAID is developing programs to help them regain stability, enhancing local leadership capacities and building on our emergency response so far. We recently trained 400 Community Emergency Response Team volunteers, who are assisting communities in navigating challenging transitions in this crisis. We are now working closely with community leaders, local authorities, NGOs, and other key actors to further strengthen local support services and foster long-term recovery. As we monitor the situation closely, we remain committed to ensuring that our resources and expertise are ready for any scenario that may arise.
By IsraAID Israel Emergency Mission | IsraAID Israel Emergency Mission
By IsraAID Staff | IsraAID Israel
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser