Sunflowers Youth
We invite children and youth who lost a parent to join weekly get-togethers aimed at enabling growth out of loss. At Sunflowers everything is acceptable - to be happy, to laugh and to talk about the loss. But only if you want to. Every person at their own pace and when the time is right for them.
As part of the Sunflowers Youth program a permanent group of youth meets with the same group facilitator on a weekly basis for shared activities: we tell the group about our week at school, share how our day is going, draw, sing, dance, play and eat. Through these activities we learn about ourselves and about our friends in the group, and build trusting and close relationships. If we want to, we talk about the parent we lost, but only if we want to. Every activity, in each one of our activity branches (we already have ten!), is accompanied by a therapist who undergoes unique training and a professional coordinator. The branch activity is also accompanied by our instructors who are themselves orphans who participated in our programs.
How will you place me in a suitable group?
Children: children ages 8-13 will be placed in the activity group in their area of residence and will receive close accompaniment of a personal mentor – “a big brother/sister”, who themself lost a parent. The mentor will devote quality time to the young mentee, both during the Sunflowers activity and in their free time. The mentee and their mentor will receive support through activities developed by the Sunflowers professional team which specializes in loss and bereavement.
Youth: every youth over 13 years of age will be matched with a young sister or brother orphan who they will mentor during sessions that take place throughout the year. This role of a mentor will enable the youth to process their complex feelings, to belong to a group of peers that is accompanied by a therapist, and to participate in a variety of activities which also have a therapeutic aspect. In addition, the mentors are also invited to participate in a get-together that takes place once every two weeks, where they can share with the group their experience as a mentor and receive advice and guidance for a successful mentoring process. The group and the therapist are available for the mentor throughout the year.
Parent of a mentee: the parent, who usually accompanies the child to the activity, will have the opportunity to get to know the group of other parents and will be invited to a monthly group get-together with a therapist. In addition, we also offer a supplemental response through a support group facilitated by a therapist aimed at helping and guiding parents regarding the difficulties and complexities experienced by their orphaned children, and providing tools for coping with them. If needed, parents can personally contact the branch therapist.
Sunflowers is the place where I feel like everyone else and understand that there are other children like me. At Sunflowers I can be myself, without being afraid of the reactions.
Thanks to Sunflowers I understood how strong I am and that I can live with the pain and without my mother.
Our Youth Program currently operates in Jerusalem, Yafo, central Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Kfar Saba, Hod Hasharon, Givataim, Ness Ziona, Rehovot and Beer Sheva, with at least 20 families active in every branch. To date the program has impacted hundreds of families, and at Sunflowers everyone is invited - all children, from all the sectors, who experienced the different causes of orphanhood. At Sunflowers we believe that true friendship can develop out of the personal pain over the loss of a parent, friendship which will blur the boundaries and break down the barriers in Israeli society. We welcome with love participants with varied beliefs, ways of thinking and ways of life.
There is no Sunflowers branch near you? Branches are opened based on demand. If you or your children would like to participate in the Sunflowers Youth program please register here »
More things you may like to know
Can you join a group that has already started?
We make an effort to let children and youth join up until the end of December. After that our groups are usually already full. Of course you can contact us and we will try to find a way to be there for you.
Why do orphaned children need a group?
You probably know someone who experienced loss and continued on with their life as usual, and therefore it may be difficult to understand why they would need a special group. The truth is that even though it may seem that people who experienced loss continue on as usual, most likely they are experiencing a crisis, while their pain can be eased by meeting people who went through, or are going through, the same thing.
Can siblings participate in the same group?
Yes, siblings are invited to participate in the same activity group.
Do you also accept special needs children?
Yes, we accept anyone who wants to and is able to take part in the group.
What are the group activities? Do you sit and talk about death the whole time?
Not at all! Sometimes we don’t even mention death. At Sunflowers we do many things together: share about our week in school, draw, sing, dance, play, eat. We also learn about ourselves and about the friends in our group, and if we feel like it we also talk about the parent we lost, but in no way do we have to.
How do we convince a child to come to the activity?
We believe that gradual exposure to the group can spark the child’s interest. Some of the solutions we suggest include showing the child the Sunflowers Instagram page, watching the video clips posted on the website, or scheduling to go to the first group meeting together with an orphaned friend.
My mother passed away, but my father can’t bring me to the Sunflowers activity. What can I do?
We don’t want to give up on any child. Contact us and we will see how we can help.
My younger brother doesn’t talk at all about our father who passed away. Will he fit in at Sunflowers nonetheless?
Many children don’t talk about their parent who passed away, but are nonetheless happy to come to Sunflowers, because here they can be together with other orphans and participate in shared activities, even without talking about their loss.
As a parent do I have to participate in the parent get-togethers?
All the parents of children participating in the program must take part in the parent get-togethers. These are conducted with the branch therapist and take place one a month, at the same time as the children’s activity. It is important to note that if a parent would also like personal assistance, we will of course be happy to help.