Someone to Run With & Galgal

Someone to Run With is located in Tel Aviv and serves older immigrant youth (ages 18 to 25) who came to Israel alone or whose families disintegrated after they arrived in Israel. These young people are often drug addicted and wander the streets without the knowledge or resources to know how to contact community services that could help them.

The project operates a drop-in center that provides basic needs in the form of hot meals, warm clothing, showers, etc. The staff guides and supports all contacts between the youth and the community services. In addition, the youth receive assistance in locating temporary living accommodations in hostels or rented apartments. Recently, the Center has opened an additional day, exclusively for young women, so that the specific needs of this population can be addressed more effectively.

The Galgal project was established in Jerusalem in order to serve adolescents (ages 16-26) who live on the streets, in total alienation from society and under severe conditions of neglect. Many are new immigrants from the Former Soviet Union with no family in Israel. Most of them abuse drugs and alcohol and are involved in criminal activities.

Staff members go out to the streets to reach out to the youngsters and try and motivate them to seek help. They can come to Galgal where they are offered a place where they can eat, shower, change clothes, do laundry and even store personal belongings. Referrals are made to relevant local rehabilitative and therapeutic programs such as the methadone center and drug-rehabilitation centers.

The Galgal project operates in cooperation with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and the Youth Advancement Division of Jerusalem.