Dana and Or were taken in by one of Hamifal’s family homes 5 years ago when they were 7 and 9 years old, after their mother remarried and their stepfather refused to raise them. As a mother who was unable to defend her own rights and who was also suffering from a severe violent environment, she had to accept their intake in the out-of-home setting. Their biological father, who held a criminal record, disappeared from his children’s lives about a year prior. As a result, when they return home during vacations, they have to grapple with a complicated relationship with their mother’s husband. Since their stay in our children’s home in the south of the country, there has been a visible improvement in their emotional wellbeing and we have endeavoured to restore their lost joy of life. The children are very attached to their mother, however, she rarely comes to visit them. Due to their home situation, a host family was found to host the children during holidays and over the Sabbath.

The organization runs an educational therapy program for the children’s biological parents and encourages them to be a part of their upbringing, despite not living with them. Most children return home every other weekend and over the holidays.