Empowering Teachers
Healing Children
We build resilience and social-emotional wellbeing in under-resourced communities.
Fortify Israel fills a critical gap: embedding trauma-informed resilience education directly into Charedi (ultra-Orthodox) schools. In a void of local, culturally-sensitive resources, we educate Charedi teachers to implement a proactive mental health intervention in classrooms and provide psychological first-aid when necessary.
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A Unique Model
'Kevutzot Koach'
Teachers in our cohorts receive 18 hours of training from expert mental health clinicians and trauma specialists. They learn how trauma affects children and gain the tools to recognize students in distress and refer them for appropriate care.
In addition, we prepare teachers to facilitate structured resilience groups—’kevutzot koach’—within the classroom. These groups enable students to name and normalize difficult emotions, develop emotional regulation strategies, and process their experiences in a safe and supportive environment. The model’s strength lies in its accessibility: schools integrate groups without disrupting core instruction, students participate without stigma, and communities benefit from an increase in trauma-literate educators.
"The teacher who facilitated the meetings held space for each girl and created an island of security amidst the chaos of the war. There are still powerful booms here every day, but at least we have a solution for [our children to cope]."
Aviva, Asheklon - mother of 4th grade participant
The Challenge
Reaching the Underserved
In Charedi communities, mental health care is often limited by stigma and a deeply insular culture. National organizations struggle to gain access, and even local services focus primarily on crisis therapy—not education or prevention.
There is no broad platform for proactive, community-wide mental health education in these schools. That’s where Fortify Israel comes in.
Our Solution
Leveraging Trusted Schools
Schools are community centers in Israeli Charedi life. Thus, we train educators—those with the most trust, access, and impact in children’s lives—to normalize conversations around emotional health, recognize signs of trauma early, and lead classroom-based interventions.
With local staff, school-based partnerships, and sensitivity to cultural norms, we’re providing trauma care in places few others can reach.
To Date, We've Reached
1341 Children in 36 Schools
Ashdod
6 schools
8 teachers
155 students
Be'er Sheva
4 schools
10 teachers
186 students
Netivot
9 schools
24 teachers
440 students
Ofakim
4 schools
13 teachers
247 students
+6 Cities
13 schools
22 teachers
313 students
