1. "AHAVA" CHILDREN & YOUTH VILLAGE
Newsletter 3
The Association for the Advancement of Children and Youth at Risk POB 4, Kiryat Bialik. www.villageahava.org
July 2009
“I CAN DO IT ALL, FOR THIS IS THE SUMMER BREAK” Naomi Shemer
The 2008/9 school year is over, and this year 10 graduates completed 12 study years and are embarking on a new path
in their lives and many 9th graders are starting High School. At the close of this year we are saying farewell to several
veteran residential group homes and we are preparing for changes in the counseling staff as well as welcoming a new
social worker to the therapy staff of the village. "Ahava" is continuing its activities in almost full swing also during the
summer holidays: the emergency center and the 18+ project are operating as usual, and the village is operating in sum-
mer mode in which for three weeks there is a 24/7 camp program (from field-training to a pre-historic evening, diverse
workshops, a field trip for the seniors, a trip to the water park at Shefayim, “Race to a Million” and many other surprises).
In the remainder of the time there is a wide variety of activities for those children who are not going home and are re-
maining in the village in the “Vacation Group”. Let us all enjoy a pleasant, rewarding summer!
The 18 plus Project And that child is me... A talk with an “Ahava” graduate
“Home is not where you live,
but where they understand you” This column aims to go back and meet up with alumni of "Ahava", and to hear
(Christian Morgenstern, German poet and philosopher) about the village from a more removed, mature perspective. Five standard
questions, one very different life story, and a childhood and youth spent in
The 18+ project constitutes a home for one place - "Ahava" village.
youngsters of ages between 18-25, who This time we talk with Daniel Abera, who was a resident of "Ahava" and is
now a resident of the 18 plus project.
after having spent time in a boarding Who am I? Daniel Abera, age 22½, recently demobilized from service as a com-
school or with a foster family, do not bat soldier in the Border Police Corps. I reside in the 18+ apartments, and cur-
have the possibility to return home to rently seeking employment while engaging in odd jobs for my livelihood. I was
live with their families for fear of social born in Hadera to a family that came from Ethiopia in Operation Moses. I have
5 brothers and I arrived at "Ahava" at the age of 10. I spent 9 years here, until
compromise or because the family home my conscription into the IDF.
is dysfunctional. What sort of a kid was I? I was a charming child, cooperative and with initia-
The project accompanies the youngsters tive. I liked it here at the village and at school and I very much wanted to stay
here at "Ahava" and not to return to Hadera. I think that I knew how to seize
during their term of military or national
opportunities, and I took part in every possible educational project. I assisted
service, providing emotional or technical the staff, I volunteered to the Civil Guard, and I even went on an outing to Pol-
support according to specific need. and with the school where I learned photography and video editing.
Thereafter, the youngsters receive A significant experience from the village… All aspects of life at the village are
educational guidance toward higher or meaningful, but the most significant is the staff. For most of the years I spent
here I was in the Amsalem (Sara and Eli) group home, and I do not have enough
vocational learning in order to prepare
words to express how supportive and significant they have been to my devel-
them for integration into adult life under opment. We had countless talks, also with the “shinshins” in the evenings and
their own steam. After completing the this really helped me. From the age of 16 I volunteered during 3 years at the
personal program, the youngsters receive Civil Guard, and this was something that was very meaningful to me.
individual guidance during the course of A critical moment…I think that being an optimist I seek what is good for me. I
departing from the apartments, entering did not experience crises here. I really wanted to leave the negative atmos-
phere of neighborhood in Hadera, and here at the village I had a private corner
the world of gainful employment and of my own, a place to grow. I was cared for and was provided with many oppor-
independent living. Additionally, we make tunities to do things and enjoy experiences that I would not be able to have at
it a point to maintain contact between the home.
youngster and the project staff even after What did I receive from the village… Plenty. A chance for life, growing up not in
leaving the accommodation facility. a desperate neighborhood. Confidence in myself and in my abilities, knowing
that if I try hard enough I will succeed. I received much warmth and love, and
The project has 4 “warm apartments”- 2 in even today when I walk in to visit it feels good to see many of the staff and to
Kiryat Motzkin and 2 in Kiryat Bialik which know that they love me. To the children residents of the village it is important
provide accommodation for 24 for me to say that being in the village is a winning situation, there are no losses,
so use it properly.
youngsters. This is part of a national
What do I get today in the 18+ project?... I am independent, living my own life
project involving the JDC (“Joint”) and the while getting a lot of support. I was sent into real life without being entirely
Council for a Fair Chance for Children. The alone, I was taught how to keep house and handle a bank account and I get
project and the support of the youngsters help in finding work when I feel I need such help. Thanks to the project I have
are funded solely by donations. my own spot - not in the Hadera neighborhood - with the ability to be indepen-
dent, but never really alone.

2. "AHAVA" CHILDREN & YOUTH VILLAGE
Newsletter 3
The Association for the Advancement of Children and Youth at Risk POB 4, Kiryat Bialik. www.villageahava.org
July 2009
Shnat Sherut (Community Service Year) A Journey of Love
For the last two decades "Ahava" village has been During last April, 10 of our senior students left on a unique
home to a large and diverse commune of quality survival field-trip. The trip was the climax of a short-term
Shnat Sherut volunteers from around the country, project which was mentored by 2 volunteers, Tzachi and Ru-
thie, who work at Nirim Youth Village. Also accompanying
known as “the Shinshins”. The Shnat Sherut is a year
the trip were Mira Albo, the cultural activities coordinator,
of volunteering between the time of completing high
and Tomer Peretz, a social worker. The purpose of the jour-
school and conscription into the IDF which has been ney was to let the children experience a personal and group
deferred for a year. This is a year of intensive doing dynamic process, and to allow them to cope with internal
for the community, purely on a voluntary basis. At challenges by means of a four-day physical challenge.
"Ahava" village there is a commune of 20 “shinshins”
from around the country, from as far apart as Eilat The selection of the group, while understanding the great signi-
ficance for the participants, both from the aspect of the group
and the Golan, who arrive from the Kibbutz move-
and the individual experience, was carefully done by way of
ment and the Israel Scouts movement. During last personal interviews. Three one-hour preparatory meetings
year we had the pleasure of working with two girls were held prior to the trip itself, together with technical evalua-
who came all the way from Vancouver, Canada (Gal, tions along with the excitement, apprehensions and expecta-
daughter of Israelis residing abroad) and from Lille, tions of the trip itself.
France (Maude, French born daughter of Israeli fa- The journey started at Lower Amud Creek, and ended at the
ther), respectively. Just before wishing them a final ancient synagogue at Bar’am, with a planned hike of 50 Km (32
Bon Voyage and welcoming the new commune, we miles) in four days. The students carried on their backs full
asked them to summarize their year. packs of personal gear, food, water, a sleeping bag and mat-
Why did I choose to do the Shnat Sherut? Maude - tress. These backpacks weighed about 15 kg (33 lbs) each.
During the four days the students coped with complex dilem-
It was important for me to come and contribute a
mas, starting from few sleeping hours, preparing food for them-
year before going to University. I have family in Israel selves, dividing the food in a way that it would suffice for four
and even though I hardly knew Hebrew it seemed in- days, heat and cold, not keeping to schedule, and activities that
teresting to come and contribute in Israel. Gal - I record their difficulties in coping with the situations, such as
wanted to do something that concerns not only me video cameras, or personal recording in their trip journals.
but also other people who need me. Despite living Their coping difficulties were mainly manifested in the language
abroad for so many years it was important for me to the children used toward the leading team, and in their strong
do this in Israel, because to me this is my home. opposition to the leaders’ instructions. To add some drama, on
A meaningful experience this year… Gal - The main the morning of the second day of the trip, while walking along a
thing is the connection with the kids. This entire year narrow path, one of the girls slipped and fell into a chasm,
causing quite a bit of tension. Fortunately for us all, she suf-
was most meaningful, but the final session of the
fered only very minor bruises and was discharged from hospital
“What? Know!” project which I mentored, and at the next day, and came back in time to join us for the last day
which I saw that the children had taken in, learned of the trip, and to receive her certificate at the moving Finishing
and were enriched was for me very moving. Maude - Ceremony at Bar’am.
There are many meaningful experiences: I met a lot
A part of the students’ own introspection was done with the
of amazing people, a different culture and the work power of the group and with the help of the students reflecting
with the children gave me a lot. Most important was on each other’s behavior. The opportunity for reflection was of-
to see the progress - even the smallest bit - of the fered during morning talks, evening talks and talks held during
kids and to feel that by virtue of our input there is the trip itself. The students defined their own goals for the trip,
development. and their declaration of these goals before the members of the
group helped others reflect on them and their behavior during
What I am taking home with me… Maude - I re-
the journey. In this fashion the student who continued to hurl
ceived a lot of love from both the kids and the staff. I abuse during the trek received a reflected feedback from his
learned a lot about myself, to cope and to be less friends regarding his behavior.
fragile and reticent. I am leaving with much more
self-confidence and returning to France with plenty As the journey progressed it was possible to clearly discern the
process of the students’ adaptation to the hardships they faced.
of new people who are dear to me. Gal - I am going
Both the group bonding and the individual bonding of the group
away with much more self confidence and with the members motivated the students to want to deal with the hard-
perception that this is what I want to do in the future ships and - toward the last day of the trip - to look at them-
- to work with youth and children. Everything is en- selves from an external viewpoint, enabling a high level of self
veloped in incredible experiences and good memo- awareness. The journey was a rapid growing-up process, full of
ries. opportunities to develop, and spiced with unique energy.