Where Hope Grows: Early Childhood Education as Israel’s Anchor of Recovery
In the wake of the October 7th atrocities, entire communities across Israel’s Gaza Envelope were left shattered. Families were displaced, homes destroyed, lives uprooted. As the immediate shock gave way to the long road of rebuilding, one question emerged: how can these communities return home and regain a sense of belonging, safety, and resilience?
The answer, strikingly, came not from policymakers or experts, but from the communities themselves. When asked what they needed most to rebuild their lives, their response was clear and unanimous: the kindergartens.
At first, this may seem surprising. In times of devastation, one might expect demands for housing, fortified shelters, or enhanced security infrastructure. Yet the call for kindergartens reveals something profound about their place in Israeli society. A kindergarten is more than an educational setting for the youngest children. It is a communal anchor, a space of routine, creativity, and care that binds families together. It is where children laugh and play, where parents meet and support one another, and where the rhythm of life begins to beat again.
In the eyes of these communities, restoring early childhood educational centers (3-6) means restoring normalcy. It is a declaration: “We are back. Our children will grow here. Our community will thrive.” Their request teaches us an essential truth: early childhood education is not a peripheral service, but the beating heart of community resilience.
This understanding is the driving force behind the initiative to rehabilitate and redevelop 32 early childhood centers of excellence in the Gaza Envelope, led by SASA Setton, Alumot Or, and the Center for Jewish Impact under their emergency campaign, Embrace, in close coordination with the Ministry of Education and local municipalities. Over the past year, the project has focused not only on repairing physical damage from rockets and security incidents but also on reclaiming spaces that had been temporarily used by security forces, ensuring each early childhood educational center provides a safe and nurturing environment for children’s return.
At the core of the project is pedagogical healing and redesign. Educators are supported in reimagining classrooms, playgrounds, and learning spaces according to innovative educational philosophies and the needs of their communities. This includes the gradual introduction of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, following a study visit to Italy by educators, now being applied in early childhood educational centers such as in Bror Hayil. Teachers also participate in guided workshops and mentoring programs, shaping each center so that it reflects the values, routines, and aspirations of the children and families it serves. Later this year, a two-day national conference will bring together all early childhood education staff for targeted training to advance this pedagogical process.
Resilience is another central component, with each early childhood educational center developing a tailored program in collaboration with Barzilai Medical Center and additional professional partners.
The project has been made possible through the generous support of donors and partners who share a deep commitment to education and community resilience. These include the Mike and Sofia Segal Foundation, Bank Hapoalim, the Rothman Family Foundation, the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC), and the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM). Their contributions ensure that each educational center is equipped with state-of-the-art learning materials, technology, and tools to support both academic and emotional development. This support demonstrates the power of collective effort in nurturing Israel’s youngest citizens and reinforces the shared responsibility of ensuring every child can grow, learn, and thrive even in the face of adversity.
Having completed the first year of physical rehabilitation and pedagogical support, the project now enters the second year of a three-year program. This stage emphasizes comprehensive renovations fully aligned with the educational vision, ensuring each early childhood educational center is not only structurally safe but also a stimulating, supportive environment for both learning and emotional recovery. Emotional well-being programs for children, guidance for parents, and continuous professional support for educational teams are integrated into every step.
This approach ensures that the initiative is not merely about rebuilding walls, but about restoring the social and emotional fabric of communities. By creating spaces that inspire confidence, creativity, and belonging, these early childhood educational centers serve as true anchors for families, helping them regain routine, stability, and hope. They are a testament to what can be achieved when local knowledge, professional expertise, and philanthropic commitment come together to serve a common purpose.
As Israel continues to face complex challenges, the lesson is clear: investing in early childhood education is investing in the resilience of society. The communities of the Gaza Envelope have shown that even in the darkest times, the seeds of recovery and resilience begin in the smallest classrooms, guided by the vision of educators and supported by the commitment of a society determined to rebuild from the ground up.
By asking for kindergartens, the people of the Gaza Envelope remind us of this truth: the seeds of resilience start where learning, care, and community converge. The ongoing work made possible by the Mike and Sofia Segal Foundation, Bank Hapoalim, the Rothman Family Foundation and more ensures that these seeds are nurtured and flourish, offering hope, inspiration, and a brighter future for the next generation.
As the new school year begins, we wish all children, educators, and families a safe and calm year, filled with curiosity, learning, and growth. And we hold in our hearts the hope for the safe return of the hostages, knowing that until this day comes, the full restoration of community life cannot be complete.
