The Aharon Shandor NGO
Aharon Shandor, father of the Foundation’s President, was born in 1931 in Hungary. He married Hava (RIP), and they had 3 children: Yair, Anat, and Amir. Aharon served as an instructor at the Givat Hod educational institution and as an educator at the Lapid Group. He passed away in 1988, and the organization founded in his name aims to continue his educational and therapeutic legacy. Anat Ramaty Shashua, Chairwoman of the organization, and Galit Ben Yair, the CEO, began their professional journey together in 1999 as a team in a group home operated by Orr Shalom. The organization emerged from the necessity to provide support for their graduates how lack family backing, during their transition to independent life. The support is provided through two main projects: The Apartment Project and the Orientation Project. The young men and women are accompanied by a professional team consisting of a social worker, project coordinators, a psychologist, a psychiatrist and other outpatient therapists.
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The Apartment Project
The apartment accommodates up to six young women aged 18-25, who reside in the project for a maximum of 4 years. As part of the project requirements, these young women commit to serving in the IDF or national service. In return, they receive support including housing assistance, emotional care, financial guidance, educational support, assistance with bureaucracy, advocacy to maximize their rights, legal problem-solving, and other tools necessary for independent living.
Each young woman receives a personalized plan tailored to her abilities and needs. This plan encompasses various aspects such as optimal integration into the military/national service, selecting an academic path, entering the workforce, practicing prudent financial management, setting personal development goals, and more.
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The Orientation Project
The project targets young women and men at-risk who have experienced out-of-home settings and have completed their military or national service.
Participants receive comprehensive support, including guidance, counseling, and professional, emotional, and personal assistance, to facilitate their successful integration into higher education and the workforce. The association assists them in developing a long-term plan for independent living and self-sufficiency.
As a core component of the project, each participant commits to community engagement and volunteering, dedicating 60 hours per year to various fields.