Arab Society in Israel Faces Crisis of Children Lacking Family Support
Fidaa Mar'i Abd al-Hadi, coordinator for the Arab community's program for children without family frameworks, highlights a critical issue within Israel's Arab society: dozens of children aged 3 to 18 are living in institutions and emergency shelters due to severe family neglect, abandonment, or difficult circumstances. These children, who have experienced harsh family situations, require more than just basic shelter. Abd al-Hadi emphasizes that while institutions provide professional care, they are limited by fixed hours, changing staff, and age-based discharge policies, leaving children without the consistent, personal connection they need.
The "Family and Individual Mentorship" project aims to address this gap by fostering secure, stable, and personal relationships for these children. This mentorship is not adoption or a replacement for biological parents, nor does it grant legal guardianship. Instead, it offers crucial human support, assuring children they are valued and important. The "Children in Life Opportunities" association, operating under the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services, currently has 55 volunteers and 3 mentor families from the Arab community involved in this initiative, impacting 58 children who previously faced life's hardships alone.
Abd al-Hadi stresses that the need within the Arab community far exceeds current resources, calling for collective responsibility to create a supportive environment. Mentorship demands maturity, patience, and long-term commitment, as children who have experienced abandonment may test boundaries, fearing further rejection. The association provides volunteers with thorough interviews, careful matching, and ongoing professional guidance to help them understand and address the children's underlying fears. While the past cannot be erased, the project strives to offer these children a better present and a more secure future, urging more families and individuals to volunteer and provide a beacon of hope.
