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Friends by Nature
Organization working with at-risk Ethiopian-Israeli youth. Youth centers, personal accompaniment, and crisis response.
CommunityFounded 1996 ยท Headquarters: Jerusalem
About
Friends by Nature was founded in 1996 in response to rising dropout rates and youth risk in the Ethiopian-Israeli community. Operates ~30 youth centers throughout Israel.
Main programs
- Youth centers โ leisure-and-education centers after school at 30 locations
- Personal accompaniment โ youth paired 1:1 with a mentor for personal-issue work
- Crisis response โ 24/7 hotline + immediate accompaniment in crisis situations
- Summer camps โ national summer program for 2,500+ participants
- Leadership workshops โ for outstanding youth
Who is it for?
- Ethiopian-Israeli youth ages 12-18 at risk or in risk groups
- Families needing crisis accompaniment
- Children who immigrated without their parents (10% of the community)
How to reach out
- Website: friendsbynature.org
- The organisation publishes no crisis line. In immediate distress: ERAN 1201, NATAL 1-800-363-363, police 100, MDA 101
- HQ: Jerusalem. Youth centers: in every community center.
See also
- Domestic violence support โ Right
- Summer-camp subsidies โ Right
- JDC-Ashalim โ funding partner
Rights operated
- Domestic Violence SupportImmediate help for domestic violence cases โ shelters, legal accompaniment, psychological counseling. Amharic-speaking services. Anonymity guaranteed. WIZO + Tebeka + Tene Briut.
- Subsidized Summer Camps โ Ministry of EducationSummer camp subsidies for school-age children (6-14) from eligible families. Up to 80% discount. Register via school or municipality.
Related terms
Related organizations
- JDC-Israel AshalimJDC-Israel's Ashalim division. Runs intervention programs and government partnerships for marginalized communities, including Ethiopian-Israelis.
- ENP โ Ethiopian National ProjectPartnership framework between the government, JDC, Jewish Agency, and federations โ running education, youth, and excellence programs.
- Olim BeyahadA career-mentorship organization for Ethiopian-Israeli university graduates. Connects students with senior industry mentors.