OneFamily Youth Division

OneFamily Youth Division

Healing the Next Generation of Israel’s Survivors

Healing the Next Generation of Israel’s Survivors

On October 7, 2023, thousands of Israeli children were thrust into a nightmare. In one day, entire families were torn apart. Children were left orphaned, wounded, and deeply traumatized.

But the trauma did not end there. Many now live in constant fear. Some are being raised by grieving grandparents, aunts, or uncles who must suddenly step into the role of parent. Others fear that the very people who destroyed their families — and were recently released in prisoner exchanges — might come back to finish the job.

These are the children OneFamily serves. And today, we must grow our impact by three to four times to meet the need.

The OneFamily Youth Division helps young survivors of terror and war reclaim their futures. Through trauma therapy, peer support, mentoring, and community, we walk with them every step of the way — offering the long-term care and connection they need to heal and grow.

onefamily youth division

Why it matters

Without timely intervention, childhood trauma can affect every part of a child’s life — their learning, their relationships, their development, and their sense of identity. But with the right support, that same child can redirect the trajectory of their life. They can become resilient, connected, and hopeful once again.

At OneFamily, we help children move forward — without ever forgetting who or what they’ve lost. We do not erase their pain. We walk through it with them.

OneFamily Youth Division

Therapeutic Camps and Retreats: The Heart of Our Youth Division

Therapeutic Camps and Retreats: The Heart of Our Youth Division

At the center of OneFamily’s Youth Division are our transformative therapeutic camps — immersive, carefully structured programs that help young survivors of terror and war begin their healing journey in a setting of safety, care, and connection.

Each year, we host:

  • A weeklong summer camp, and
  • Four-day therapeutic retreats during Passover and Hanukkah

These camps serve bereaved and wounded children and teens ages 8–18, and are guided by trained professionals, trauma clinicians, and peer mentors — many of whom are former participants who have healed and now support others.

These are not traditional camps. They are designed with clinical purpose and emotional sensitivity. Each camp blends therapeutic interventions with joyful, communal experiences, allowing children to feel like kids again — while receiving the tools they need to process trauma and rebuild trust.

What makes our camps unique:

  • Therapeutic sessions with licensed trauma professionals (individual and group)
  • Recreational therapy through outdoor adventures, music, art, and movement
  • Mentorship with trained peer guides who’ve walked this journey before
  • A safe and loving community that understands the depth of their grief

For many children, camp is the first time they feel truly seen, heard, and no longer alone.

Big Brother / Big Sister Mentorship Program

OneFamily’s Big Brother / Big Sister Mentorship Program pairs each child with a trained mentor — often a young adult who has also experienced trauma and loss.

These mentors are more than role models — they are lifelines. They provide:

  • Ongoing emotional support and friendship
  • Help reintegrating into school and social life
  • A stable, trusted relationship in an uncertain world
  • A powerful example of healing and resilience

These bonds often last for years and become a cornerstone of the child’s healing journey.

Year-Round Support and Leadership Development

Our support continues long after camp. The Youth Division provides:

  • Bi-monthly therapeutic support groups, organized by age and type of loss
  • Youth leadership training, empowering teens to become mentors themselves
  • Educational support and scholarships
  • Therapeutic holiday gatherings, day trips, and peer bonding events

Everything we do is designed to reduce isolation, build resilience, and help each child grow into who they were meant to become — not defined by what they’ve lost, but supported in what they can still build.

Creative and Trauma-Informed Therapies

Many children cannot express their pain through words. OneFamily integrates a wide range of therapeutic approaches to help each child process their grief in the way that suits them best.

These include:

  • Art therapy
  • Music and movement therapy
  • Psychodrama
  • Sand and phototherapy
  • Hydrotherapy
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Each child receives an individualized care plan developed by licensed professionals.

A Community That Walks With Them

Every child and family served by OneFamily is assigned a dedicated coordinator who ensures their needs are met and their progress is monitored. These relationships often last for years, offering stability and trust in a world that has taken both away.

As children grow, OneFamily grows with them. Many of our teen participants later become mentors, guiding younger children through the healing process they themselves once experienced. This model — trauma met with empathy, grief met with community — is what makes OneFamily unique.

Help Us Meet This Moment

In the wake of October 7th, OneFamily is scaling our youth services at an unprecedented rate. We are committed to tripling — even quadrupling — our capacity to meet the rising need.

But we cannot do this alone.

Your donation makes it possible to:

  • Expand therapeutic camps to reach more children, more often
  • Provide trauma care and therapy to those who need it most
  • Train and support peer mentors and clinicians
  • Offer long-term, wraparound support to children and their new caregivers

This is more than a gift. It’s a commitment to the next generation. It’s an investment in healing, growth, and the future of Israeli society.

Let them lean on you — until they are strong enough to stand on their own.

Make a Gift Today!

Redirect the course of a young life. Help a child begin again.