Project Spotlight: Summer Activities for Olim Children IFCJ Canada | August 8, 2025 (Photo: Ancho Gosh) When new olim (immigrants) arrive in Israel, the journey of starting over can be overwhelming—especially for parents with young children. Learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture, and navigating daily life can feel daunting. Anna, a mother of nine who made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) in 2022, recalls how difficult those first months were: “As parents, we’re focused on survival—finding jobs, a home, and food. However, children think about different things. They want friendship. They want someone who understands them.” To help children adjust, The Fellowship set up special summer camps for olim families. These programs serve children in grades 1 through 6, combining Hebrew language instruction with fun, friendship, and emotional support. “It’s essential for children to feel like their lives are continuing, even after such a big change,” says Anna. “These camps give them entertainment, the chance to make new friends, and most importantly, they can speak their own language. That emotional familiarity is so important.” Anna explains that when she first arrived in Israel, she was overwhelmed with the culture change, and likely wouldn’t have known how to set up play dates or summer activities for her children. But sharing summer activities with friends and family is such an important part of childhood. “Unless you’ve lived through something like this, it’s hard to fully understand just how much this kind of support means,” adds Anna. “When you see your child come home smiling, happy, and full of stories about their day—that’s everything. Both of my daughters made their first real friends through this camp. When we arrived, they had no one—all their friends were left behind… I thank you with all my heart.”
