After a year and a half of evacuation, the residents of Kiryat Shmona are finally returning home, and Dror Israel is standing with them every step of the way, working closely with the municipality and the Matnas community centers network to support this transition. Throughout this long and painful period of displacement, our educators and leaders from our associated NOAL youth movement worked tirelessly to provide much needed educational and emotional support, ensuring that even in uncertainty, children and teens had a sense of stability, community, and hope.
During the long evacuation, Dror Israel ran Learning Centers in Tel Aviv, where Kiryat Shmona’s children received academic support to close educational gaps and the social-emotional care they desperately needed. Meanwhile, the city’s youth movement branch operated its activities across different evacuation centers, training teen leaders and running afterschool programs to provide a safe and supportive space for young evacuees.
Now, we are finally coming home together. This week, Kiryat Shmona’s youth movement branch reopened its doors, with teens cleaning, organizing, and preparing for the return of their friends and younger participants. After so many months apart, the chance to reunite, restart, and rebuild their community is deeply meaningful.
The return to Kiryat Shmona is a moment of excitement—but also great challenge. Many families are coming back to uncertainty, damaged infrastructure, and the emotional weight of what they have endured. Dror Israel is committed to continuing our support through this transition and beyond, ensuring that this homecoming is the beginning of true renewal.
In the coming months, new groups of Dror Israel's young educators will move to Kiryat Shmona, committing themselves to strengthening the community through education, leadership, and social engagement. These dedicated young adults will work alongside local partners to build long-term programs that provide real, lasting support. "As residents begin to return, this is our time to step up—to build and be built," said Kobi, 24, one of the young educators relocating to the city.
A new key initiative will be the Community Resilience and Renewal Center, a joint effort between Dror Israel and the municipality and local community centers. This space will serve as a social and cultural hub, bringing together residents of all ages as they rebuild their lives and community bonds. It will host educational programs, cultural events, and leadership training, creating a center of energy and hope in the heart of the city.
In parallel, Dror Israel will establish a new after-school Learning Center in the city, ensuring that students who have faced nearly two years of disruption have the academic support they need. Through tutoring, mentorship, and structured programming, we will help them regain confidence, rebuild skills, and move forward successfully.
As Kiryat Shmona begins this next chapter, Dror Israel is here to help make the transition smoother, stronger, and filled with hope. The road ahead is long, but together, we are building a resilient, thriving, and united community once again.
Comments