Today, the mission of Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund has become even more important. The Fund works to support the youngest victims of terrorism, providing educational, therapeutic, and recreational assistance to help children recover from trauma.
Gary Hargrave of Hargrave Ministries is deeply involved with raising much-needed funds for the organization.
The Fund’s Origins
David Rubin, former mayor of Shiloh, Israel, and his three-year-old son, were hit by bullets while driving home from Jerusalem in 2001. The toddler’s injuries were severe, and it was doubtful if he would fully recover. Rubin was inspired to start the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund as he realized that many young children had similar tragic and traumatic stories in their past.
The Fund’s Mission and Vision
The Fund works to combat the effects of terrorism-related trauma on Israel’s youth. Children in the heartland of Israel are disproportionately affected by the severe violence and upheaval in the region, and many children become victims.
The Fund can create positive family counseling for children who have been affected by terror. It also helps to rebuild the nation of Israel by supporting its youngest citizens.
The Fund’s vision is to help children rise above the status of victims. The organization believes that children who have undergone trauma due to terrorist actions need special help to assist them in their recovery. The goal of the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund is to make sure that these children can live peacefully.
Activities of the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund
The Fund provides counseling and emotional therapy to children who have been the victims of terrorism in Israel. Children often cannot take part in traditional talk therapy and need an intermediary to help them express their emotions. The Fund uses music, animals, and movement to help children overcome their post-traumatic stress disorder.
One of the Fund’s most effective projects has been their therapeutic petting zoo. When children connect with animals, they can express their innermost feelings and heal from their trauma.
The Fund also offers therapeutic horseback riding at their ranch in the Shiloh area. Therapeutic horseback riding is proven to reduce children’s anxiety and shorten their recovery times after a traumatic event. Horseback riding also helps children who have had physical injuries recover more swiftly.
Other Services Offered
The Fund provides programs for developmentally delayed children. It also helps children with fine and gross motor difficulties. The Fund offers speech, language, and occupational therapy. It works with children who have conditions like cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome.
The Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund also helps its child clients with math and science skills and resource rooms for individual education. Israel has experienced severe cuts in its educational funding, and private organizations need to step in to fill in the gaps.
Summer Camps
The Fund is working to bring six-week summer camps to the Israeli heartland. Previously, summer camps were traditionally only three weeks long. Summer camps focus on recreational and educational activities, giving children a place to go during their school breaks.
How Hargrave Ministries is Helping the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund
Gary Hargrave was deeply moved by the mission of the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund. He decided to begin supporting the organization every month. Those wishing to also donate may do so online through the Hargrave Ministries website. 100% of your donation to Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund through Hargrave Ministries goes directly to support their programs.
Donations are necessary because Israeli resources are stretched beyond the breaking point. The effects of violence in the community have caused local organizations to have difficulty raising money independently. International charitable organizations need to take up the slack and ensure that these worthwhile endeavors are fully funded.
Being Inspired to Help
If you have been moved by the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund story, it is important to share your resources. Children’s lives are being affected by terrorism every day in Israel, and the need for their services is greatly expanding. Having an organization like the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund to rely on in difficult times has helped many children and families recover from the effects of trauma.