Kfar Hayeladim
Last Sunday we visited the Children's Village (Kfar Hayeladim) in Karmiel, a small town in the center of Galilee, about 2 hrs drive north from Netanya. I had driven past there about 30 years ago when Karmiel was a "new" town, with three apartment buildings and many cranes, now 50,000 people live there. We went because my sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Allen, who are visiting from England, are Program Director and Chairman respectively of their local chapter in Southend-Westcliff of JACS, the Jewish Association of Cultural Societies. JACS donates money each year to the Karmiel Children's Village, and so they thought it would be nice to see it first hand.
We were met by the Director, Yehuda Melamed, and he introduced us to Jack White, the Head of Friends of Kfar Hayeladim, the charity that collects money to support the Village. Jack explained that most of the basic funds to keep the 250 children at the Village alive is given by the Ministry of Education, but it doesn't cover anything except the bare essentials. They depend on contributions for most things that make life liveable, such as books, toys and trips and so on. Jack himself is from England and at 83 years old is quite a character. He still teaches English in Karmiel and still collects money for the Village when he visits England.
Yerhuda explained that the Village is unique in Israel and has three main frameworks, the first are 20 houses (mishpachton) where there are around 10 children aged from 5-15 who come from broken homes or have been involved in abuse or are otherwise unable to live with their biological parents. Many children have to be turned away each year, sometimes because of violent behavior, drug addiction or criminal activity. In each house there is a married couple who treat the kids as part of their family, like a group foster home. They study at local schools, but there is also a special in-house school for children with learning difficulties. The children are allowed to visit with their parents on weekends depending on the circumstances. When the kids reach 16 they go into shared apartments with a mentor (madrich) available for advice and help, and when they reach 18 they go into the Army, but still return to the Village on holidays. After they go to College they still come back to stay in the Village, that many consider their true home.
We were taken on a short tour of the special needs education facility and one of the mishpachton homes. The people we met were incredibly dedicted and admirable. If anyone would like to donate to a really worthwhile cause the address is: Friends of Kfar Hayeladim, The Children's Village, Karmiel 21661 Israel (bank details available on request; their web site is kfar-hayeladim.co.il).
We were met by the Director, Yehuda Melamed, and he introduced us to Jack White, the Head of Friends of Kfar Hayeladim, the charity that collects money to support the Village. Jack explained that most of the basic funds to keep the 250 children at the Village alive is given by the Ministry of Education, but it doesn't cover anything except the bare essentials. They depend on contributions for most things that make life liveable, such as books, toys and trips and so on. Jack himself is from England and at 83 years old is quite a character. He still teaches English in Karmiel and still collects money for the Village when he visits England.
Yerhuda explained that the Village is unique in Israel and has three main frameworks, the first are 20 houses (mishpachton) where there are around 10 children aged from 5-15 who come from broken homes or have been involved in abuse or are otherwise unable to live with their biological parents. Many children have to be turned away each year, sometimes because of violent behavior, drug addiction or criminal activity. In each house there is a married couple who treat the kids as part of their family, like a group foster home. They study at local schools, but there is also a special in-house school for children with learning difficulties. The children are allowed to visit with their parents on weekends depending on the circumstances. When the kids reach 16 they go into shared apartments with a mentor (madrich) available for advice and help, and when they reach 18 they go into the Army, but still return to the Village on holidays. After they go to College they still come back to stay in the Village, that many consider their true home.
We were taken on a short tour of the special needs education facility and one of the mishpachton homes. The people we met were incredibly dedicted and admirable. If anyone would like to donate to a really worthwhile cause the address is: Friends of Kfar Hayeladim, The Children's Village, Karmiel 21661 Israel (bank details available on request; their web site is kfar-hayeladim.co.il).
posted by Jack Cohen at 9:54 PM
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