After 2 years of war, tens of thousands of veterans in Israel suffer from trauma. Most do not have access to adequate care. They suffer alone, lives broken, struggling to keep going. With your help, we can change that.
We are building a unique therapy farm in the Negev desert. Here, veterans work with animals, plant vineyards and raise crops. They regain purpose, recover mentally and physically, and start to rebuild their lives.
The farm also includes trauma care facilities, medical professional supervision, mental health sessions, group therapy, and therapeutic yoga sessions. We hope to also build a small therapy pool, if we can raise enough.
We are all volunteers, most veterans ourselves. Nobody on the team is getting paid. There are no large organizations involved here.
Every cent you give goes directly to helping Israeli veterans recover.
Together, we can help veterans rebuild their lives.
Who We Are
We are a team of reservists, from all walks of life and all corners of Israel. After two years of fighting, we want to help as many as we can to recover, rebuild, and prosper.
This is why we've decided to found the Hope Hills farm.
The idea behind the farm is three-fold:
- •Help trauma-suffering veterans to recover, by living on the farm, tending to animals and vineyards, and letting their souls heal.
- •Get at-risk youth in the area off the streets by giving them a place where they belong, can learn valuable skills and build themselves up together.
- •Invigorate a neglected area of land in a crime-ridden area of the Negev desert, turning the barren land into a fertile farm, and the area into a thriving community.
Going forward, once the first farm is set up, our goal is to open at least 3 more, and help more communities in different parts of Israel.
You Can Help Israel Recover
We have the people putting in the work, we have the required social and medical professionals lined up, we know how to grow vineyards in the desert.
However, a farm like this requires significant funding to get off the ground, and we need your help.
There are no large orgs involved here. It's just a bunch of veterans with a dream of healing and recovery. The farms will become self-sustaining in the future, with the proceeds from crops and dairy, but it takes a long time to reach that point. We are working to raise funds now, because trauma-suffering veterans need help now, not later.
What the Money is For
Funding is needed for two primary targets:
1) Tools, Construction and Agricultural Assets
- • Field work tools
- • Fertilizer, seed, vines
- • Feed for chickens and sheep
- • AG tech devices for improving crop yields
- • Construction for sheds and shelter
- • Water heater
2) External Social and Medical Professionals
- • Social worker, at least 1 session per week
- • Psychologist, at least 3 sessions per week
Making the Desert Bloom
The farm is currently set up in a barren desert, in an area that is ridden with criminal activity. In past experience, a farm like this not only turns the desert into an oasis, but also elevates the entire area around it. Youths that had no purpose or direction are now welcome to come work on the farm, and have a place where they belong. Unkempt, unsupervised lands turn into cultivated fields.
Time and time again, setting up farms like this one has been proven to completely transform the area, not just agriculturally but also socially.
Once the current farm reaches maturity, with your kind help, the plan is to expand this into other areas that need help, in similarly down-trodden areas of Israel.
Transparency
As we raise funds for use on the farm, we intend to publicly and clearly report what they are used for. Updates will be provided showing what has been purchased using the funds, what has been achieved, and how the farm progresses - with your help.
FAQ
Can I volunteer?
Yes! If you have experience with farm work, with social work, or just want to give us a hand, we would love to have you with us. Please contact us at hope.hills.hebron@gmail.com.
Can I donate equipment?
Yes! We need tools and equipment that can be used on a farm. Even if it's a bit damaged, we may be able to repair it. (As long as it's somewhere in Israel so that we can pick it up, of course). Please contact us at hope.hills.hebron@gmail.com.
I know a veteran that might need your help. How can I refer them to you?
Please contact us at hope.hills.hebron@gmail.com, or have the veteran contact us directly. We would love to help.