Elem meets approximately 15,000 youths and young adults every year, helping pave their way back into the community.
Elem, active for over 43 years, is Israel’s leading organization for identifying, supporting, and treating youth and young adults in at-risk situations. Through dozens of nationwide programs, hundreds of employees, and more than a thousand volunteers, Elem operates across every sphere of young people’s lives – in the community, on the streets, and in the digital space – building trust-based relationships that provide support, stability, and an opportunity for change.
The young people we meet face a wide range of hardships, ranging from depression and anxiety, through violence on the street, at home or online, sexual abuse, dropping out of school, eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol addiction, and even severe situations of disconnection such as involvement in prostitution and homelessness.
The organization’s work is carried out in partnership with government ministries, primarily the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security, local authorities, and philanthropic foundations, forming a central part of Israel’s national response to youth and young adults in at-risk situations.
We operate wherever young people are: on the streets, in parks, in schools, in youth centers, and online. We reach out to them and make sure that no one is left behind.
When their whole world is in turmoil, your donation is the anchor. Elem’s teams meet thousands of young people at exactly the critical moment — on the street, in front of screens, and at points of crisis — to make sure that no boy or girl is left alone with anxiety and loneliness. Choosing to donate to Elem isn’t just immediate help; it’s the chance to save a life, to reach out to someone who is simply waiting to be seen, and to help build a stronger, more caring Israeli society together. Don’t give up on them.
We work across a range of fields to provide support, tools, and opportunities to youth in distress — from street rehabilitation to guidance toward employment and independent living.
Elem’s mobile units provide a safe, mobile space that comes directly to where young people are — on the streets, in gardens, and in public parks. The teams operate in places where young people feel comfortable, offering eye-level human connection, non-judgmental conversation, initial guidance, and a hot drink. Through their consistent presence and the personal connections formed in the field, the teams are able to identify situations of distress and risk in real time and, when needed, connect young people to further support and professional care. The mobile units operate in a multicultural manner, reaching all parts of society, including Arab and Haredi communities.
These school-based spaces provide a safe and informal setting within the school day, encouraging eye-level conversation, strengthening relationships, and enabling the early identification of distress and difficulties. Operated in partnership with, and funded by, the National Insurance Institute’s funds. 
Elem’s emergency facilities operate nationwide, providing accessible, safe, and trauma-informed support for young people in extreme situations, including homelessness, social exclusion, and exploitation. The facilities operate in partnership with the Ministry of Welfare and provide holistic support and guidance.
Elem Digital operates a range of therapeutic responses in the digital space, aiming to provide young people online with a safe, non-judgmental, and supportive environment where they can share, express themselves, and seek advice on any issue that concerns them. Operated with the funding and partnership of the National Insurance Institute’s funds. 
Elem’s sexual abuse treatment network provides support to children, youth, young women, and families dealing with the effects of sexual abuse, through individual, family, and group therapy. The network operates in partnership with the Ministry of Welfare, the Probation Service, and local authorities, and promotes rehabilitation, empowerment, accountability in treating offenders, and the prevention of repeat abuse.
Elem’s youth centers provide a safe, accessible, and informal space for young people, offering personal support, meaningful relationships, and group activities within the community, in partnership with local authorities.
The “Good People” program operates at young people’s leisure venues, including outdoor parties and large events. The teams and volunteers provide support, a listening ear, and assistance to young people in difficult or distressing situations.
Elem operates a training, guidance, and professional learning framework for its own teams and other organizations, based on years of knowledge and experience. Every year, thousands of professionals are trained through courses, professional mentoring, and individual and group workshops in the fields of trauma, risk, and intervention with youth and young adults.
Elem operates community-based facilities for young women and girls dealing with complex trauma and risk situations, combining emotional, social, and functional support alongside assistance with housing, employment, and education. The facilities operate in partnership with government ministries, local authorities, and philanthropic foundations.
Volunteering at Elem is a central and meaningful part of our work on behalf of youth and young adults in at-risk situations. Volunteers work across a range of fields and serve as meaningful, non-judgmental, eye-level figures for young people. Alongside individual volunteering, Elem also promotes corporate volunteering and partnerships with companies and organizations.
More than 50 projects across the country: street outreach units, youth centers, school-based spaces, treatment centers for victims and perpetrators of sexual assault, and 24/7 emergency centers for homeless youth and young adults and those on the prostitution spectrum.
Housing First is an innovative and groundbreaking program designed for young women and men on the prostitution continuum who are dealing with trauma, instability, and disconnection from support systems. The program is based on the Housing First approach, according to which creating a safe and stable living space is the starting point for a process of rehabilitation, recovery, and independence. Alongside the housing solution, participants receive an intensive, personally tailored care package that includes emotional support, securing of rights and benefits, and assistance in the areas of health, employment, education, social connections, and life-skills development. The program is operated by ELEM and Shalom (Chochmat Nashim), the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, the Schusterman Foundation, and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality.
Good People is a national program for emergency intervention, harm reduction, and providing assistance to young people in nightlife venues, nature parties, and festivals. The program operates on the understanding that alongside experiences of freedom, belonging, and enjoyment, there are young people in these spaces who face situations of risk, psychological distress, abuse, and various emergency events. The program’s teams set up protected spaces in the field where they provide accessible, non-judgmental professional presence, provide information and harm-reduction tools, and offer support and initial assistance in emergencies and psychological crises. The team maintains ongoing contact after the event when needed, connecting young people with relevant resources in the community. Since the events of October 7th, the project has adapted to changes taking place in nightlife culture, including a focus on trauma-informed work. The program is operated by ELEM in partnership with the Ministry of Public Security.
ELEM’s mobile units are a safe, mobile space that reaches young people directly where they are – in the streets, gardens, and public parks. The teams work in places where youth feel comfortable, offering eye-level human connection, non-judgmental conversation, initial guidance, and a hot drink. Through their consistent presence and the personal connection formed in the field, the teams are able to identify situations of distress and risk in real time, and when needed, connect young people to further assistance and professional support. This activity is carried out in partnership with the Tel Aviv Municipality.
A space operating 24/7 for homeless young women. The space provides a place to sleep, a hot meal, and a humanitarian support package. Emotional support and treatment, group work, workshops, securing of rights, and employment guidance.
From coping with a harsh reality to searching for hope: how we help them find the way forward
Nachman, a boy who loves nature, music, and gaming, coped with a tense, alarm-filled daily reality that felt to him like a “Russian roulette.” He experienced deep social loneliness and significant academic difficulty, especially after his mentor — who had been a meaningful anchor and source of inspiration for him — was called up for reserve duty. During that time, Nachman felt that the hardship of northern residents who had not been evacuated remained invisible, and amid the fear and upheaval of daily life, he hoped that society and the media would recognize what he and his family had been through.
Nachman Hajabi (17), Safed
Lavi, a values-driven boy whose life revolved around rugby and volunteering, found himself consumed by daily worry for the physical and emotional wellbeing of his family under the sounds of falling rockets and artillery. The war cut short his adolescence, severely affected his parents’ livelihood due to the closure of the family restaurant, and left him with a painful sense of loneliness in the face of the system. Despite the mounting fear and what he described as “wounds to the soul,” he searched for ways to breathe, went out to work to help at home, and wished with all his heart for the return of his beloved north, his sense of safety, and the hostages.
Lavi Adi Brigel (17), Moshav Sasa
Mohammed, a boy full of joy for life, a music maker and lover of poetry, found himself confined at home due to anxiety and fear of missiles. That year was accompanied for him by great confusion, difficulty concentrating on remote learning, and a deep longing for the youth center in Acre that had been a second home and a warm refuge for him. As an Arab boy, he experienced emotional complexity and hesitation to express his feelings, yet he chose to remain optimistic, believed in goodness, and asked leaders to bring peace that would give young people his age an equal opportunity to flourish, succeed, and live in safety.
Mohammed Ahad (17.5), Jadeidi-Makr
Articles, interviews, and insights from Elem’s world of activity — on the challenges, successes, and the impact of our work on the lives of young people
ELEM's street outreach vans operate in 24 communities across the country every evening, between 8:00 PM and 2:00 AM. Teams of staff and volunteers go out to the streets to give young people a hug and a listening ear. Every year, the outreach teams locate and assist thousands of young people. Thanks to them, most of the boys and girls return to school, join the workforce, get clean from drugs, enlist in the army, and more.
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Naama Ozeri, an ELEM graduate who was supported by ELEM during her youth at critical points in her life that shaped her path forward - in a beautiful performance of the song "You Have It All" by Akiva.
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We call this moment - when ELEM reaches out a hand to young people, this one second in which they don't feel alone - a "revolving door," because just one encounter is enough to change a life.
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"Anxiety and loneliness lead to extreme situations. The distress among young people related to suicide and self-harm is deeply troubling. We need to open our eyes and see our children. Anyone who meets young people day to day must first and foremost see them. We do this in the field and we don't give up on anyone. This is the order of the hour - not to give up on them." This is what Nava Barak, president of ELEM, said earlier today in an interview with Channel 13. "The situation in Israel and around the world is affecting our donors, and recently there has been a decline in donations in the social sector. That's why we've now launched a mass fundraising campaign for young people. We have all become ambassadors."
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The youth of the Gaza border communities grew up amid routine sirens and rounds of fighting, but nothing prepared them for what happened on the Black Sabbath. The emotional toll is heavy and the shock still hits hard. Parents say many of them are turning to sleepless nights and alcohol, and fear that these young people are losing their way. A report by Liran Kojahinoff, from Channel 11 Evening News, 11.01.23.
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On October 7, thousands of young people in Israel joined the cycle of risk. Now is the time to help them.
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The association's activities with and for youth evacuated from the Gaza border communities. A look at the hardships they experience, and despite it all - hope for a better future.
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If the walls could talk, they would tell the stories of hundreds of thousands of young people facing situations of risk. ELEM is there for them, locating them and helping them overcome their hardships.
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All meetings will begin at 4:00 PM. Please join the Zoom meeting a few minutes before the start time, as late entry will not be permitted.
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