Israel Help and Education Center Foundation
In 1970, a group of idealistic Chabad youths who included teachers and veterans built their home in Kiryat Gat, They had a social educational vision that combines Jewish studies with general subjects, welfare assistance, enrichment and support for the weak city population.
Today, with 50 years of operation, the Ma'aleh Center operates a variety of successful "touching" projects to thousands of families in a variety of fields.
Education:
* Operation of kindergartens, and daycare centers.
* Torah activity for children, teenagers and adults in the afternoon.
* Nutrition assistance center for families and veteran children and new immigrants.
Target Audience:
Ma'aleh Center helps the new immigrants from Ukraine, as well as older immigrants from Yemen, Ethiopia and Russia.
Among the beneficiaries can also be found Sephardim, Ashkenazim, religious and non-religious families.
Empowerment in the community:
* 200 female students are educated in our public-religious school.
* Our enrichment programs involve 1,200 girls and boys.
Food security:
* Hundreds of children receive two hot meals a day throughout the year.
* 80 families from Kiryat Gat and its surroundings who are in a tight financial situation receive hot meals on a regular basis.
Due to economic reasons, these children and families do not receive the minimum necessary nutritional basics.
Accomodations:
Most of the buildings that house our educational endeavors are in a difficult physical condition that requires immediate renovations. This will allow for activities to take place in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere thereby enabling our children's skills to develop and improve .
Social characteristics:
* 80% of the families participating in the activity are affected by various problems, including divorce and drugs.
* Most families are unable to earn a steady income.
We believe in the next generation:
Every child and every family is entitled to an equal opportunity. The Ma'aleh Center provides and every child who enters our doors with"parental" support and a valueable education that will accompany them for the rest of their lives.