Revitalising, rehabilitating and restoring communal and personal resilience across 10 Gaza Envelope communities.
Communities2Gether is a three-year, multi-pronged rehabilitation project aimed at restoring and rebuilding 10 of the Kibbutzim and Moshavim in Israel's South that were heavily impacted by the October 7 massacre.
The programs offered through Communities2Gether will be tailored to suit the unique needs of each community and will include:
- Psychological and emotional rehabilitation
- Leadership building and community development
- Trauma counselling
- Rebuilding infrastructure
- Mending social bonds and fostering international connections
See how UIA is helping the victims of the October 7 attacks recover, rehabilitate and rebuild in Israel's South.
Dedicated and Tailored Support for Communities in Israel's South
Communities2Gether is a new project, established in 2024 by Keren Hayesod-UIA, The Jewish Agency for Israel, local municipalities, and the Tekuma Authority (the government authority responsible for the rehabilitation of the South) to address the evolving needs of the communities hardest hit on October 7 as they endeavour to return home and rebuild their lives. Through Communites2Gether, Keren Hayesod-UIA is working closely with community leaders to address the specific needs of each of the following 10 communities in the Western Negev:
- Be'eri
- Ein Habesor
- Kfar Aza
- Magen
- Mivtachim
- Nir Am
- Pri Gan
- Shlomit
- Yated
- Yesha
Resilience and Recovery Programs Supported By Communities2Gether
The programs that will be tailored and implemented across the 10 communities include:
- Community leader training to manage internal rehabilitation and social cohesion efforts
- Trauma counselling for first responders and families (8-session program)
- Traditional psychological therapy for all community members in need
- Employment programs to return the unemployed to work as part of the rehabilitation process
- Alternative therapies such as horse riding, art, nature excursions (designed for teenagers)
- Youth-focused programs including leadership development for 12th graders, Youth Futures mentors in schools and summer camps abroad for youth from evacuated communities (accompanied by trauma experts)
- Empowerment lectures, cultural events, children's workshops and commemorative events
We can never undo the torment and suffering that the victims of the October 7 massacre went through. But we can help those who were injured physically and/or emotionally to slowly pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, and hold their hands as they take their first steps on the long journey to rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of each individual strengthens the entire community, and each rebuilt community strengthens the State of Israel.