Initiatives

An intensive 4-week mental health training program for therapists and social workers to increase mental health support for trauma patients in the country’s periphery. The program is led by 8 trauma experts from Shalvata, the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
The goal of the program is to train 150 new therapists for trauma, and indirectly add 2500 additional therapists in the public service.

An online service that allows Israelis in need of immediate mental health assistance to connect with volunteer first responders in cooperation with TalkSpace. The product also serves as a directory of available therapy services based on location, age and needs.

Establishment, support and operation of the mental health center in Eilat, to provide immediate mental health support to over 60 thousand evacuees, currently housed in over 50 hotels in greater Eilat, under the supervision of Prof. Mandelovich of Shalvata Hospital.
The goal of the HML is to improve the diagnostic capacity in the hotels and to create an optimal connection between those seeking treatment and the therapists of Shalvata. This is a complex operation involving HMOs, municipal health centers, municipal welfare systems, and hundreds of volunteers.

The initiative was established by Tech for Israel to bolster the resilience of educators, particularly those without adequate support in early childhood and non-formal education sectors. Set to begin in January 2024, it targets 2,000 practitioners in the Gaza envelope, aiming to enhance their ability to aid over 115,000 students. With a budget of NIS 11M, funded by partners like the Schusterman Foundation and Yad Hanadiv, the project seeks to develop tailored support interventions, ensuring educators are equipped to address trauma. Anticipated expansion includes additional funding to extend services to non-formal education sectors.

Yesh Natzav launched a program to train teachers to identify students experiencing trauma, so that they can receive proper attention and treatment. In the first two weeks, more than 600 teachers were trained, surpassing the initial goal by 170%. The program is now expanding due to interest from 20 more municipalities.

NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief is an all-volunteer Israeli humanitarian disaster relief organization with over 19 years of experience in global operations. NATAN operates mobile dental and health clinics for the evacuees currently living in Eilat and the Dead Sea.

HaGal Sheli is an Israeli non-profit using surfing as an educational tool to empower at-risk youth. HaGal Sheli created a specialized emergency education program to support and accompany children and youth who have borne the heaviest burdens and help them cope with the complex traumas associated with war.

HaGal Sheli operates daily sessions for 70 children from Southern Israel and builds a strong community
of participants for continuous peer support.

The association supports nutritional security for the elderly, Holocaust survivors, and disadvantaged families in Be'er Sheva and its surroundings. Raw materials are regularly supplied from nearby IDF bases (rescued food). As soon as war broke out, the supply ceased.
A total of 6,000 meals were prepared and delivered in the crucial first two weeks of the war.

This initiative originated from the Tech for Israel team to raise funds for the organization of the families of abducted Israelis. Supporters can purchase and wear the tags as a sign of solidarity with the families.
Tech for Israel covered the cost of the initial inventory and seeding the project so it could be self-sustaining. This unique fundraising campaign has been phenomenally successful, raising over 10M NIS since its launch with the help of dozens of volunteers.

Krembo Wings is a unique youth movement bringing together children and youth with and without disabilities from all backgrounds, cultures, religions, identities and expressions, through meaningful social-educational activities. Krembo Wings partnered with tech for Israel to establish an emergency center of operation in Tiberias for over 150 children with and without disabilities evacuated from Israel's northern communities.

Nir Oz is one of the kibbutzim most severely affected by the events of October 7. More than 100 people were murdered or abducted, representing 25% of the kibbutz's population. Tech for Israel provided immediate funding for the saving of the Kibbutz's agriculture facilities.

The Iron Dome war significantly impacted employment, particularly within the Arab and Bedouin communities, leading to widespread displacement from the job market and a surge in unemployment and financial insecurity. Responding to this pressing issue, the Hura municipality partnered with Tech for Israel to appoint an employment coordinator with the mission to guide and support those who have been displaced from the job market: overseeing training programs, providing guidance to those affected, and collaborating with employers to identify job opportunities, focusing on both immediate job placement and long-term economic stability.

Kibbutz Sufa is a dynamic community with more than 250 members. Since October 7th, the community's strength has been jeopardized as a result of being separated from its home and land for 18 months. Tech for Israel supports Sufa's program for Prime Timers (60+), which provides support activities, individual counseling, and communal events to restore the worn-out social adhesive that will keep the community together for this long period.

Shaar Hanegev, tragically hurt by Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, witnessed the loss of 80 lives and 23 abductions. The repercussions, especially on teenagers, manifest in PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Evacuations disrupted communities, causing a significant upheaval. In response, with the support of Tech for Israel, Shaar Hanegev initiated a youth program featuring counselors as supportive adult mentors, providing guidance and connection to rebuild resilience. This dedicated team of counselors, backed by a training and guidance system, stays with the youth throughout the day. Our focus is on identifying their strengths and passions, collaborating with various organizations to offer activities that develop these strengths, all under the supervision of professionals and therapists.

There are 180 people between the ages 18- 30 living in Kfar Aza, making it the area's largest population of young adults. This group was heavily impacted by the October 7th devastations, with tens of them murdered or taken captive, some still in the hands of Hamas. While other age groups have specialized recovery programs, there are none for young adults. Kfar Aza Kibbutz, with the help of Tech for Israel, established a year-round personal mental health program to support this age group.

The Nirim community was evacuated from their homes and moved to an intermediate residence in Beer Sheva for an expected year. Due to the relatively scattered nature of the temporary residences, a significant effort is needed to keep and strengthen community bonds and resilience. Tech for Israel supports a social program for a large group of Nirim's kids and teens to assist in rebuilding themselves and their community.

Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak is one of the communities in the Gaza envelope significantly affected by the events of October 7th. Tech for Israel supports a program aimed at restoring the personal, familial, and communal resilience of the residents through funding multiple initiatives in these areas.

Tech for Israel is endorsing the Community Resilience Development program, for Kibbutz Holit, customized to meet the unique needs of every community member. This eighteen-month program strengthens community resilience and fosters deeper interpersonal connections through individualized assistance, group activities, and community events.

The Sign Now app ensures real-time accessibility for the deaf community during wartime, enabling live video connections for the hearing impaired with a live sign language interpreter. Sign Now has facilitated emergency calls for the deaf in various regions, including border areas and northern Israel, connecting them with local authorities and potentially saving lives.

Healing Teddies organization works with victims of trauma, anxiety, and the wounded, with specially designed therapeutic teddy bears, as a unique method of positive empowerment for patients.

Tech for Israel funded several healing retreats for hundreds of Israeli who survived the massacre at the Nova dance festival. These group therapy sessions provide critical emergency treatment to reduce the chance of developing post-traumatic symptoms in a non-clinical setting.

Many Holocaust survivors are experiencing recurring trauma since the horrific events on October 7th and need immediate assistance.
Zikaron BaSalon, an association dedicated to commemorating the memory of the Holocaust and the well-being of survivors throughout the year, established a 24/7 call center to offer emotional support and assistance with immediate needs for over 4,000 Holocaust survivors.

Operates a financial "triage room" that works with evacuees across the country to provide immediate response to families who are struggling financially, with the aim of removing barriers to economic rehabilitation, and encouraging economic resilience among the families of the evacuees.

Provides emergency emotional and community-based response to young girls without family support, or from a background of poverty, complex post trauma situations, and social periphery. This, combined with the events of the past weeks, has resulted in dramatic regression in their physical and emotional state. 

Over 25000 children are living in temporary communities after being evacuated from their homes. In collaboration with the "Nitzozot" Association
and the Ministry of Education, we are establishing temporary schools for 9000 children who have been uprooted from their homes in Southern Israel.l.

A dedicated, professional and accessible mental healthcare center for trauma patients, enabling long-term psychotherapy. The healthcare center works with animals that are recovering from past traumas to enable a unique therapeutic approach.

Eden Association operates several frameworks near the Gaza borders for girls and young women facing complex life situations. Following recent events, their operations had to be temporarily relocated to Jerusalem, posing logistical challenges. The support provided by Tech for Israel contributed to maintaining the framework and providing ongoing emotional assistance, including the restoration of personal security in the wake of the events.

S.A.H.I empower at-risk youth by encouraging them to assist others, forming Youth "Hessed" Units that foster positive change in their communities. following the events, the organization mobilizes its volunteer network to provide immediate aid in conflict zones: strengthen food distributions and provide essential supplies directly and safely to vulnerable populations; renovate and outfit public shelters that are deserted and unfit for extended stays; and provide immediate assistance and support to elderly individuals.

With hundreds of volunteers, the First Hug Association offers support and professional assistance to hospitalized babies and toddlers without family support. Following October 7, First Hugs expanded its activities to support every baby, child, and citizen who is injured and hospitalized without a supportive family.

Provided emergency assistance in response to war-related requests. Including hosting 35 families from Sderot and providing meals for the evacuee community.

The first Jewish-Arab emergency command center was established in Rahat, in the Negev, and is operated by volunteers for the benefit of helping families in the south affected by the October 7 attacks. Jewish and Arab volunteers collect and distribute baskets of food and equipment to a thousand Jewish and Arab families.

Assists at-risk young adults who struggle to integrate into the workforce due to a lack of necessary skills by bridging the gap between them and industries lacking human capital. In the wake of the war, Dualis expanded its efforts to assist 200,000 war-displaced Israelis seeking employment. Support includes job and rights reclamation for previous workers, job connections for job seekers, and training for welfare backgrounds. The company launched a pilot program in Tiberias with plans to expand to other cities across the country.

A therapeutic center for children with disabilities in Eilat for the evacuee community

An association that develops, promotes, and encourages therapeutic interventions with dogs among special populations, particularly children with special needs.
Tech for Israel supports the organization in providing therapeutic interventions with dogs to the Home Front under the guidance of licensed para-medical personnel.

The Association's 600 qualified therapists provides complementary treatments for the sick and homebound individuals in the comfort of their homes. Tech for Israel supported the sending of large delegations of therapists to provide 17,700 hours of medical and psychological treatments for evacuees, families of kidnapped or murdered members, and survivors of Nova.

Provides urgent mental health care for the Ethiopian Amharic-speaking population

Assistance in funding funeral and mourning expenses for the families of victims with disabilities, in collaboration with the Kobi Mandel Foundation.

The association provides a wide array of services, such as treatment, counseling, and research, aimed at enhancing civilian resilience in the wake of traumas and disasters. With the support of Tech for Israel, they created "ATEM-ET", an innovative online platform offering professionally guided cognitive-behavioral therapy tailored to address the specific traumas experienced by children in the current war context..

Tikkun is a Center for Gathering, Education, and Social Change. Tech for Israel supports TIkkun's special project to create and manage community-run informal education centers with the goal of fostering community resilience in the evacuated communities.

The association operates rehabilitation hostels for individuals dealing with mental illnesses, aiming to promote their recovery and integrate them into society. As a result of the war, participants in the Ashkelons rehabilitation center experienced a loss of their rehabilitative activities and a decline in their mental health. Tech for Israel's support enabled them to continue their programs outside of the city while preserving their framework, healthcare, and emotional stability.

Mentorship of twelve educational frameworks for evacuees to supplying a psycho- pedagogical framework and help teams gain therapeutic and educational approaches to deal with the new circumstances including identifying trauma victims and offering programs to reduce stress and anxiety.

The Dream Doctors are sending teams of professional medical clowns across Israel to provide emotional support to communities affected by the 7th of October's events. Through humor and positive interactions, they distract individuals from distressing thoughts and memories associated with the trauma, addressing immediate emotional needs and contributing to long-term healing, trauma prevention, and normalization of life.

Our Brothers was founded to create a supportive community for bereaved siblings. There are communities spread out across the country, which organize get-togethers and workshops and offer special channels to keep the memories alive. Unfortunately, thousands of individuals have now joined this circle. With the assistance of Tech for Israel, the association is creating a dedicated system for the new brothers and sisters.

Safe School is a leading ed-tech company serving over 1200 schools with exclusive content and lesson plans focused on mental strength and social-emotional learning (SEL). With the support of Tech for Israel the company produced  10 comprehensive units of content designed to assist teachers in creating classes and to support children during these traumatic moments in Israel's history.

The NGO refurbishes donated computers from companies and government offices, employing senior volunteers and employees with special needs, then distributes them to underprivileged families. Together with Tech for Israel, 9,000 refurbished computers were given to war evacuees, allowing access to digital services like remote education, entertainment, communication, and mental health support while displaced.