First Home Update – Home is Always the Best Place To Be

Even though uncertainty has become our reality and bomb shelters have become the places where we meet friends more often than around a festive table, our spirit is only growing stronger with each passing day.

Just a few weeks before the start of the Roaring Lion War, we welcomed 11 new families into the program. As soon as flights to Israel resume, we are expecting six more families, and everything is already prepared for their arrival.

Now, there are 186 people participating in the program. We and our coordinators stay in touch with every participant and try to maintain a sense of normal routine for them to help them get through this difficult period. Even during the war, the children managed to dress up in cheerful costumes for Purim and receive sweet gifts. The adults have begun their studies in the Ulpan — both offline and via Zoom.

In the Hinanit settlement, former program participants helped organize a children’s room in the bomb shelter so that the adults could begin their studies. Participants in Ramat Negev have started their classes on Zoom. For now, it is not easy, but they even bring their textbooks with them into the shelters when the siren sounds.

   
Children in Hananit are spending time together while their parents are studying Hebrew | Photos: JAFI

   
Purim in kibbutz Or Ha Ner| Photos: JAFI

 
First Zoom lesson in Ramat Negev and Olim from kibbutz Revivim with their first Hebrew books | Photos: JAFI

Katya and Kirill from Ukraine arrived in Israel in the city of Afula and, thanks to Koen, joined our program in Kibbutz Mashabei Sadeh, where they received a very warm welcome. They have already been helped with temporary jobs, and yesterday they began learning Hebrew online.

“We’re managing quite well so far. The studies have already started, our heads are spinning, but thank G_d, we’re beginning to succeed. We are grateful for your support. In a city it would have been much harder for us. We are safe,” – Katya shared.

Katya and Kirill in their First Home in Israel | Photo: JAFI

,em>End of January 2026 Katya & Kirill with Koen at the airport in Moldova just before their departure to Israel | Photo: JAFI

Another one family from Ukraine came to Hinanit. Gennadiy, Yana and their son joined us there at the end of February. They also feel safe and at home: “Both adults and children feel safe here. Our son made new friends quickly. We have excellent coordinators, and we are surrounded by very good and kind people here“.

We truly see how people support and inspire one another. Children make crafts in the bomb shelter, adults do sport together and study, and coordinators invite them for tea and heartfelt conversations.

Literally at the beginning of March, we received undeniable proof that a home, support, and care can create small miracles

We have already written about the family from kibbutz Ma’ale Gilboa who organized an exhibition of children’s drawings. Their daughter Varvara, who arrived in Israel only three years ago, won a storytelling competition about the Northern District (Varvara’s diploma on the picture), and they immediately shared this wonderful news with us: “This is convincing proof that the program truly works. For us, it is a wonderful gift for the third anniversary of our Aliyah.”

Life goes on. Am Israel Chai!

Please support the “First Home in the Homeland” Project. Any amount is welcome!
Assisting a family in the “First Home” program costs € 230 euro / US $ 250 a month.

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