Bet Hayeled is a group home that serves orphaned children or children from abusive homes, specializing in helping children who cannot be returned to their homes and need to rebuild their life in a warm nurturing community.
The emotional burden that many of these kids carry adversely affects their ability to perform in school. As the children grow older we must battle any gaps they begin to develop in their studies. To address this challenge we have hired a professional tutor to work with the kids in elementary & junior high school providing an essential additional push.
Our organization was founded in 1994 to provide a loving home for orphans and/or abused children who have been removed from their homes by the State of Israel’s ministry of welfare.
The Bet Hayeled team has made a lifetime commitment to support orphans and at-risk children who have been removed by social services from their family home in order to escape a cycle of distress, abuse and violence. These children cannot be returned to their (abusive) homes and need to rebuild their lives in a warm, nurturing community. In addition to becoming a part of a family unit on the kibbutz, these children receive weekly psychological counselling to help them deal with the emotional and behavioural issues that they face. Bet Hayeled has pledged to be their “family” (emotionally and financially) through the next stages of life, which include such challenges as the army, national service, university education and marriage. Bet Hayeled enables the children to prosper by creating a framework that allows them to integrate into and contribute to society.
Name of Organization:Bet Hayeled, Kibbutz Merav
Number of Paid Staff:4
Number of Volunteers:16
Total Organizational Expenses:$300,000
% of Organizational Overhead Expenses:4%
Because we follow through with our kids after high school we can make sure they pursue a degree in higher education (We have a special scholarship fund for that). We are able to see the success of our efforts when we see these kids going to college or learning a profession with which they can proudly support themselves.
Our educational efforts encourage and lead the majority of our graduates to pursue a college education or learning a profession. Our oldest graduate is a Special-Ed teacher in an elementary school.
Children
Education
Israel
Shelter
Here’s an example of one girl's project for her bat-mitzvah.
Art Supplies for Israel
"I have decided to share my simcha with the children of Bet Hayeled – Kibbutz Merav, Israel. These at-risk children from broken homes have now found a secure and nurturing home on Kibbutz Merav. Throughout the week the children spend part of their free time drawing. They also participate in a weekly art class with a professional art teacher. Their art projects are a place for them to express themselves in an open and free flowing fashion. I ask that each of the guests bring to my party one piece of art supply (crayons, markers, etc..) to be placed in a box at the hall entrance. After my Bat-Mitzvah I plan to ship all the collected art materials to the children of Bet Hayeled. Thank you for help making my Bat Mitzvah such a special occasion!!"
Name:Yitz Feigenbaum
Title:Co-Director
Address:Kibbutz Merav DN Gilboa 19148 Israel
Telephone:(046) 539-103
Email:yitz@merav.net
Website:www.bethayeled.org