LAKESIDE VIEW VILLA

The sheltered apartment “Lakeside View” is a Maalot located extension of the “House in the Woods” in Kfar Veradim and was established by the Mercaz Cochav Association Ma’alot (registered association) with the purpose of integrating young women with special needs originating from orthodox homes within a normative and established normative community and to engender principles and values of tolerance and acceptance of those different.

The apartment is a warm home for 6 young women aged 18+ with mild to medium intellectual difficulties from orthodox backgrounds. It has a capacity to house 10 tenants in the future. It has been established to new and comfortable standards suiting the needs of the tenants. Each woman has her own room that is spacious and well equipped with toilets and shower nearby.

The public areas of the house include a club room containing board games, creative materials, etc. The living room, kitchen and dining area are tastily furnished creating a pleasant and intimate ambiance. There is a guest room that in the future will serve young couples wishing to stay over with them in a religious and idealistic atmosphere over Shabbat.
The young residents leave in the morning for studies, sheltered employment or to work places nearby in the regular employment market. In the afternoons they participate in leisure and social activities at the clubhouse at the Cochav Center that is located a few minutes walk away from the apartment. There they meet up with other youngsters with special needs.
Part of the activities take place in the apartment directed by the social worker together with instructors and volunteers. These activities place emphasis on religious characteristics typical of the house such as the weekly portion of the law, festivals and the traditional experiences of everyday religious life.
Every fortnight at the end of the week the girls remain in the apartment and enjoy a traditional Shabbat with leisure and social activities or just resting.
The house team consists of a manager, social worker, a house mother and instructors that lead continuing activities and place emphasis of strengthening social and personal skills. All these activities are to advance processes of strengthening, independence and personal responsibility.