Supporting Kiryat Shmona: A Year of Resilience in Evacuation

Since October 2023, the 25,000 residents of Kiryat Shmona have been living away from their homes, scattered into evacuee centers and temporary accommodations across the country. When the city was evacuated due to escalating Hezbollah rocket fire, the community was dispersed into tens of hotels across the country, including several in in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Haifa, and Tiberias. Dror Israel immediately sprang into action, establishing improvised schools and youth programs to ensure continuity for the children and teens. Over a year later, the residents of Kiryat Shmona remain displaced, watching from afar as their city faces daily bombings with no clear timeline for their return.

In Herzliya, the evacuated youth meet for a group discussion.

Throughout this challenging year, Dror Israel has been running ongoing educational and emotional support programs for over 500 of Kiryat Shmona's children in 16 locations across these four cities. This includes day camps, youth activities, and most recently, after-school homework help centers designed to address the academic gaps that many children have developed due to the constant disruptions.

Dror Israel's experienced educators provide academic support to evacuated youth

"Since leaving home, I've had a really hard time focusing on school," shared Noa, a 6th grader from Tel Aviv’s evacuee center. "The teachers at [Dror Israel's] homework help center have been so supportive and really helped me catch up in math and English."

In addition to the academic support, Dror Israel also focuses on emotional well-being and community-building. As the school year began, our educators worked closely with the community to prepare for another year of evacuation. On the one-year anniversary of their displacement, we organized a day of activities, including art projects for the youth, helping them express their feelings about home—both the home they’ve left behind and the temporary one they’re building.

Many Kiryat Shmona teens have been trained as youth leaders through Dror Israel’s summer leadership programs. These programs not only provide teens with a sense of purpose and responsibility but also equip them with the skills to lead activities for younger children in their evacuee centers. Their leadership has given them stability during this uncertain time in addition to giving families peace of mind knowing their kids are in good hands.

Kiryat Shmona's teen leaders run Rosh HaShana activity.

We continue support these young people emotionally and academically, helping them maintain their progress, strengthen their resilience, and develop a sense of community responsibility. When they are finally able to return home, we will continue to work with them as they rebuild their city, stronger and more united than ever before.