LJY-Netzer Volunteer Day at Omna Tipulit

In July, 40 teenagers from Britain's LJY-Netzer youth movement spent an afternoon volunteering at Orr Shalom's therapeutic-foster program. Here's what one of them had to say about their experience.

Today I spent the day at Orr Shalom, where we met with kids who come from troubled backgrounds. We created a whole rang of activities for them, from ball games to arts and crafts. I met kids that I wouldn't normally have a chance to meet on a daily basis, and that was an amazing experience for me. When I entered Orr Shalom, it felt like a real home. I was so excited to see the children happy, and loved seeing everyone from LJY Netzer helping them and making them smile. Orr Shalom was a great charity to volunteer for, as we got an understanding of some of the situations the children have to face on a daily basis.

At first, I was worried about the language barrier. However, I picked up a few Hebrew words, and the children knew a few English words as well, which meant that we were able to laugh and sing together. One of the girls got a little upset: we cheered her up and made her feel so happy that by the end she did not want us to leave. Everyone had a brilliant time. One of the girls who helped me run the ball games, Sarah Marks, said "Orr Shalom was an amazing experience. I bonded with the children and one day I hope I can go back." This was just one of many great responses to the day. We hope to return to see the children of Orr Shalom one day. Thank you to all the staff and children at Orr Shalom, and we hope to see your smiling faces again soon.

Rochelle White, aged 16.