Supporting our future this Kol Nidre
In the 1990’s, UIA Victoria introduced the annual Kol Nidre Appeal, set up for one purpose – for Children of Israel. Children are our future, and we must continue to nurture and strengthen this important yet vulnerable part of Israeli society to ensure a stronger Israel for a stronger Jewish people.
Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal (KH-UIA) is a unique organisation with the ability to scale up and answer the imminent needs of the People of Israel. For nearly 100 years, the KH-UIA has never strayed from its core work being support for our people. As we come together as “a people” to pray and ask for forgiveness this Yom Kippur, we must remember our fellow Jew; those who may be doing it a bit tough and those who need a helping hand. We must not forget those in our homeland.
In Israel, an astounding 300,000 youth are defined as at-risk. They often grow up in abusive, non-supportive and violent environments. Struggles arise due to a number of reasons such as post-traumatic stress disorder living in close proximity to the Gaza border, living in the periphery and low socio-economic surroundings as well as being children of immigrant parents who may not have successfully been absorbed into Israeli society.
Many of these problems affect their ability to function in a normative environment as well as impact their schooling and social behaviour. However, a number of revolutionary programs supported by the UIA are there to nurture, strengthen, support and help them overcome these obstacles, build self-confidence, provide them with the long-term solutions and most importantly the tools to do so.
Net@ – operates in 21 locations in the periphery, turning high risk to high-tech to bridge social gap through high-tech vocational training, leadership and volunteering Youth Villages – 4 educational youth villages throughout Israel provide a residential framework, counselling and education for youth-at-risk as well as a safe haven to thrive, and prevent them being lost to the juvenile correction system Youth Futures – this revolutionary program, operating in 36 locations, provides comprehensive tailored intervention solutions for youth at risk, pairing them with trustees for 3 years to mentor them through their problems
This Kol Nidre and particularly during this time of reflection, please consider your commitment to the people of Israel and our future. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.uiaaustralia.org.au or 1300 ISRAEL (1300 477 235).
