A Safe Space During Uncertain Days: Passover Day Camps for Evacuated Children

During Passover, as many families across Israel remain displaced from their homes following damage from Iranian ballistic missiles, Dror Israel and our associated youth movement, HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL), opened day camps for evacuated children.

In Tel Aviv, about 120 displaced children from the city took part in these programs, which operated in hotels and protected spaces where families are currently staying. For children whose routines have been disrupted again and again by war, displacement, and uncertainty, even a few hours a day of structure and care can make a meaningful difference.

A parking lot transformed into an oasis of stability

In one such program, held in a hotel for evacuated families in Tel Aviv, an unassuming protected underground parking area was transformed into a magical place of activity and connection. Children of different ages gathered each day, some meeting for the first time in the hotel, others neighbors from the same buildings. Together with youth counselors from NOAL’s 12th grade, they created an environment that was safe, welcoming, and, importantly, something to look forward to each morning.

Games, crafts, and sports gave kids a chance to relax and have fun

“It was seemingly just a few hours a day,” shared Sapir Stern, one of the Dror Israel educators involved. “But it was something really big. The children needed a place to be and people who see them.”

The impact extended far beyond the children. For parents navigating the stress of displacement, the day camp offered a rare moment to breathe. For the educators and teen leaders, it was a reminder of the role that consistent, caring presence plays in times of crisis.

NOAL's teen leaders provided connection and support for evacuated kids.

These Passover programs build on experience gained over the past years, including similar day camps run during the summer for children displaced by earlier rounds of conflict. While some areas of the country are currently experiencing a lull in daily rocket fire, many families remain unable to return home, and the need for safe, supportive frameworks continues.

In the midst of uncertainty, these day camps offered something steady: a place to gather, to play, and to be seen.