Golan Regional Council Runs Safe Nighttime Youth Space at Sea of Galilee Beaches

For 20 summer nights, the Golan Regional Council operates a dedicated youth center on the Lebanon and Halukim beaches of the Sea of Galilee. This initiative, part of the national 360 program for at-risk children and youth, provides a safe, welcoming environment staffed by professionals offering personal support, seating areas, games, guitars, hot and cold drinks, and phone charging stations.

The staff also patrol the beaches to identify and assist youths in need. Leaders Amichav Palay and Efrat Tsadrovim emphasize the state's commitment to youth welfare during summer vacations, noting that while local Golan teens rarely visit the beaches at night, the program serves all Israeli youth. The center enforces clear rules to maintain a respectful and secure space, including full clothing, no alcohol except water, and smoking only outside the area.

The program attracts youths from across Israel and various sectors, some seeking leisure and others facing risks. Many youths eagerly anticipate the center's annual opening, with some even contacting staff beforehand. Palay highlights that teens often test boundaries but ultimately seek nonjudgmental adult figures who acknowledge and accept them. Tsadrovim describes the center as a "home" by the lake, offering warmth, love, listening, and acceptance. Their goal is for every youth leaving the beach to feel there is an adult in Israel they can talk to, marking the program's success.