Youth mental health challenges after October 7 have reached epidemic proportions in Israel and Canada. Our campaign addresses the critical issues around trauma recovery and PTSD treatment, as well as supporting education to provide hope for the future. CHW’s support is filling the gaps to empower those most at risk.
Our 2024 End of Year Campaign proceeds will fund the Lea Zev Shilman & Joseph Zunia Shilman Therapeutic Programs at CHW Hadassim Children and Youth Village, the Ruth & Fredz”l Cooperstock Dairy Farm Expansion and Horse Therapy Program at CHW Nahalal Youth Village, CHW Neri Bloomfield School of Design Student Scholarships, AND Jewish Outreach Leadership Training at Canadian Young Judaea (CYJ). |
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CAMPAIGN FOCUS:
CHW’S HEALING YOUNG MINDS Campaign will help build resilience against trauma by:
• Supporting youth through leadership training and development of Jewish identity
• Providing a supportive and calming environment for gaining life-skills, personal values, and a stronger work ethic
• Strengthening broken families through specialized therapy and excursions
• Fostering cognitive, behavioural, and emotional improvements through interactive horse therapy
• Funding scholarships for needs-based students and academic excellence
Before the end of the year, we hope to raise $250,000, critical funds to support youth mental health and empower students at the youth villages and schools supported by CHW through our HEALING YOUNG MINDS campaign. Together, we can HEAL YOUNG MINDS by helping to build resilience for at-risk youth in Israel and Canada. |
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*If we exceed our goals for a project commitment, due to donor generosity, we reserve the right to reallocate the additional funds raised to other funding commitments in Israel or Canada.
OUR CAMPAIGN HAS FOUR PRIORITIES:
Lea Zev Shilman & Joseph Zunia Shilman Therapeutic Programs
Each week CHW Hadassim receives referrals from the Child Welfare Authority. While some of the children continue to live at home during treatment, other children are placed in CHW Hadassim’s Family Units and Dormitories because their home environments are unsafe and unstable. A parent’s involvement inevitably decreases when their child is staying in the dorms, so this program was created to ensures children stay in contact with their parents through specialized therapy sessions and family excursions, while also receiving the emotional, social, and educational support they need to thrive.
CLICK HERE for weekly journal entries from a student benefitting from the Therapeutic Programs.
Agricultural Therapy and Training
The Ruth & Fred z”l Cooperstock Dairy Farm:
The Ruth & Fredz”l Cooperstock Dairy Farm at CHW Nahalal continues to grow and expand as a key educational and therapeutic facility for dozens of at-risk children, including students with learning and behavioural challenges. It also offers a new environment for building life-skills and teaching values. Students gain a stronger work ethic and learn to be a dependable part of a team. The facilities and academic program developed over the past few years has led to an increase in students specializing in the Agricultural Track. There are now over 300 children from CHW Nahalal and hundreds more from nearby communities benefiting from the Dairy Farm. The Dairy has gained a reputation for being a centre for innovation in Israel. Greater collaboration and exposure across different disciplines has expanded to include students studying Biology, Robotics, Computer Science, and Engineering, who learn about the importance of the dairy industry in Israel and across the world.
Horse Therapy Program:
Horses are sensitive and gentle creatures that respond and interact without judgment. Spending time with horses helps to foster overall changes in a person’s cognition, emotions, behaviour, and social skills. The activity of riding and any games played during a session enhance memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. Positive behaviours and emotions evolve as the relationship between horse and student fosters awareness, confidence, mood regulation, impulse control, and relaxation. Social skills such as cooperation and empathy improve as teamwork develops between the horse, rider, therapist, volunteers, and new friends.
Jewish Outreach Leadership Training (JOLT)
CHW supports the JOLT program at CYJ. JOLT, or Jewish Outreach Leadership Training, is CYJ’s flagship program for youth tikkun olam, or community outreach. Participants in the program provide a minimum of 20 hours of community service to engage in active, social causes and receive hands-on experience volunteering in the community. The main educational objectives of the JOLT programs are: leadership, tikkun olam, development of Jewish identity, and developing ties to their kvutza/community. CHW is proud to be connected with CYJ, helping to make a difference in the lives of so many young adults.
Scholarships
Funds raised will benefit student scholarships and provide innovative tools to enhance the future of the Israeli design industry. Many students have been called up for duty as they serve as IDF reservists. A CHW scholarship helps them fund their studies, since they have limited capacity to work to support their education financially.
CHW Neri Bloomfield School of Design awards academic degrees in a wide variety of creative fields, including graphic design, architecture, and fashion. This institution is building academic excellence and is becoming a major influencer and innovator in the world of design. A highly respected design school of higher learning, it nurtures individual creativity among its pluralistic student body while instilling a sense of community and coexistence.
