House of Shanti launched a weeklong crowdfunding campaign on June 21 to raise money for continued support, treatment, and emergency long-term care for at-risk teenagers. The campaign is set to run until June 26, when it will end with a special event. The organization said the timing responds to findings it collected showing a troubling pattern, teenagers are increasingly avoiding asking people around them for help and instead turning to social media as a substitute.
The campaign aims both to encourage young people not to be afraid to seek help and to raise awareness among the Israeli public, while also funding the work of the organization’s three homes. During the week, a documentary project will also appear online featuring TikTok star Yoni Almakias and House of Shanti graduate Shaul Maoz. The two returned to the streets where Maoz lived before arriving at the safe home that saved his life, highlighted the reality of at-risk youth, and called on the public to support the organization.
The campaign will conclude with “Shanti Chic,” a fashion and secondhand fair on Friday, June 26, starting at 10:00 a.m. at House of Shanti in Tel Aviv, at 8 Elizabeth Berger Street. The event is open to the public, and all proceeds will go to the organization. The fair was conceived by model Noam Frost after a visit to House of Shanti, and the clothes for sale were donated from the private wardrobes of dozens of influencers and public figures represented by the Yuli agency, including Titi Aynaw, Shir Elmalih, Avi Abergil, Ness and Stilla, Yarden Gerbi, Yogev Malka, Yoni Almakias, and others. Food and drink stands and a live music performance will also be part of the event.
House of Shanti was founded in 1984 by Marioma Klein and began in Tel Aviv. Over time it expanded to a second home in the desert near Sde Boker, and recently opened a third home in Jerusalem. The three homes provide care for young people in dangerous and life-threatening situations. Over four decades, the organization has accompanied thousands of teenagers and young adults, offering a safe and supportive place to begin rehabilitation. Its approach is based on choice, responsibility, security, and a passion for life, and it has become a pioneering national model for youth at risk. In 2022, Klein received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement in education and for her contribution to Israeli society and the state.
