Read an article published on The Jerusalem Post, presenting Sunflowers' meaningful work, before and during the war »

 

On October 7th, Israel endured one of the most devastating events in its 75-year history.

In a single day, hundreds of children were left without one or both of their parents. Every day, more children are orphaned due to the ongoing conflict. As time passes, it's evident that the number of orphans will rise, exacerbated by the profound psychological trauma experienced by Israel's residents, which can lead to further loss of life.

Sunflowers is committed to shining a beacon of hope on these children, providing them with the support and resources required to help them cope with their grief and regain their strength.

In our five years of operation, we have reached significant milestones, including pioneering interdisciplinary research that led to the creation of two unique risk-reduction treatment models for orphans aged 4-18.

Given the ongoing circumstances, we're currently developing a national plan to address the growing number of orphans. This plan will include:

• Collaborating with the Ministry of Education with regard to creating guidance kits for proper treatment for those children in the formal education system;
• On-line support for remaining parents and legal guardians;
• Establishing a multilingual social and legal rights portal;
• Producing and publishing "first aid" videos, designed to provide initial guidance for parents and guardians;
• Advancing a bill designed to assure all orphans shall receive equal rights and resources, regardless the circumstances (IDF orphans, terror orphans, police orphans, firefighters' orphans, civil orphans and more);
• Establishing four new centers in the southern regions of Israel designed to provide weekly support by a highly trained social worker, specializing in trauma.

This is an emergency Appeal to launch new activity centers, for 150 orphans of the South, comprised of many new orphans who have lost their parent/s in the current war (i.e in Ofakim, Sderot and Gaza envelope). These children are enduring severe trauma, often having directly experienced the atrocities and ongoing anxiety of rocket threats. Their exposure to disturbing events, the ever-present existential fear, the loss of their homes, schools, and social circles, separation from family members, sometimes the loss of additional family members, and the inability to say proper goodbyes to their parents—all of these factors contribute to a complex trauma that presents various shades of suffering, unlike anything seen before. This, of course, adds to the inherent grief of losing a parent. Our focus is in areas the families are expected to return to their homes.

Should you like to know more about our national plan, or any other information, please contact [email protected]