Tzimaon Association

Tzimaon Association (עמותת צימאון) is an Israeli volunteer-based nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by the artist Shlomo Artzi and his partner Michal Helled. According to its official website, the association sees education as the most meaningful path to growth, change and success, and it supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds whom society often overlooks. It has operated for two decades with a nationwide presence and runs three main programs: Tzimaon LeTzmicha (Growth), Tzimaon LeHatzlacha (Success) and Tzimaon LeChibuk (Embrace). The organization's core values, as stated on its website, are that the right to change is open to everyone; that young people's needs are addressed through a holistic view; and that the assistance it provides is not time-limited. Its five main areas of activity are acquiring education, deepening life skills, emotional support and mentoring, professional placement, and concern for the physical welfare of young people (including rent assistance and food vouchers). Tzimaon LeTzmicha is a multi-stage, multidisciplinary program that accompanies young people aged 18 to 26 over about eight years, beginning with a pre-military preparatory program in Or Yehuda and continuing through military service and after discharge. Tzimaon LeHatzlacha, operating since 2006, offers high-risk youth personal mentoring and comprehensive support to help them acquire education, a profession and life skills. Tzimaon LeChibuk is aimed at the welfare of asylum seekers in Israel, including enrichment for schoolchildren, vocational training for young people, empowerment of women, and support for a professional running group of Israelis and asylum seekers that promotes children and youth from the social periphery through sport. The association has also been active in specific communities: it supported the Eitan scout tribe in the Shapira neighborhood of Tel Aviv, which became the only scout tribe in Israel serving children of refugees and migrants, and it adopted the community center in Givat Olga, Hadera, from 2002 to 2014. In the past it also ran the "Backpack for Every Child" project, donating backpacks and school equipment to children from weaker socioeconomic strata. All members of the association and its board work voluntarily, alongside the volunteers. Michal Helled, who managed the organization from its founding, was recently appointed chairwoman.

Tzimaon Association was founded in 2002 by the Israeli artist Shlomo Artzi and his partner Michal Helled. According to the association's official website, the first page of its story was written by its founders, Shlomo Artzi and his partner Michal Helled. Helled managed the organization from its establishment and was recently appointed chairwoman. All members of the association and its board work voluntarily, alongside the volunteers. The organization's first project was the adoption of the community center in the Givat Olga neighborhood of Hadera, which operated from 2002 to 2014. The association supported the library, the music center and students who volunteered in the neighborhood as part of a scholarship. From 2014 the project has operated under local leadership. In 2006, the association launched the Tzimaon LeHatzlacha (Success) program, offering high-risk young people personal mentoring and comprehensive support to help them acquire education, a profession and life skills for a successful and secure future. The program is based on a close relationship with an experienced adult volunteer who accompanies the participant and assists with funding for academic studies, vocational training, job placement, physical and mental care, and improving and empowering life skills. The Tzimaon LeTzmicha (Growth) program is a unique, multi-stage and multidisciplinary program that accompanies young people aged 18 to 26 over about eight years. During these years the young people receive special attention and guidance for their challenging transitions between periods. The program begins with a pre-military preparatory program in Or Yehuda and continues throughout military service and after discharge from the IDF. The program team includes the preparatory program staff, mentors for the military period and after, and a variety of consultants who help participants realize their professional aspirations while being involved and active in the community. The Tzimaon LeChibuk (Embrace) program is intended for the welfare of asylum seekers in Israel. It includes enrichment for schoolchildren, vocational training for young people and empowerment of women, as well as support for a professional running group that trains for the Olympics. The group includes Israelis and asylum seekers who promote children and youth from the social periphery through sport. The program also includes enrichment for children of the Eritrean community school in Abu Gida. For several years, Tzimaon operated in the Eitan scout tribe located in the Shapira neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Following demographic changes in the neighborhood, Eitan became the only scout tribe in Israel addressing the children of refugees and migrants. The tribe's members were among the leaders of the protest against the deportation of children of foreign workers and their families in 2019. In addition to funding the tribe's activities, Tzimaon helped operate a club for the members. In 2013, the activity in the tribe passed from Tzimaon to local leadership. In the past, the association also operated the "Backpack for Every Child" project, which donated backpacks and equipment to schools for children from weaker strata. According to the association's website, it has operated for two decades with a nationwide presence and manages three similar yet diverse programs. Its core values are that the right to change is open to everyone; that young people's needs are answered from a holistic view; and that the assistance the association provides to young people is not time-limited. Its five main areas of activity are acquiring education, deepening life skills, emotional support and mentoring, professional placement, and concern for the physical welfare of young people (rent assistance, food vouchers).

• 2019

  Members of the Eitan scout tribe were among leaders of the protest against deportation of children of foreign workers and their families.

• 2014

  Givat Olga community center project in Hadera ended and moved under local leadership.

• 2013

  Activity in the Eitan scout tribe in Shapira, Tel Aviv, passed from Tzimaon to local leadership.

• 2006

  Tzimaon LeHatzlacha (Success) program launched for high-risk youth.

• 2002

  Tzimaon Association founded by Shlomo Artzi and Michal Helled; first project adopts the community center in Givat Olga, Hadera.

Volunteer nonprofit focused on reducing social gaps and strengthening weak populations through education, mentoring and holistic support.

1. 1עמותת צימאון | עמוד הביתtzimaon.co.il
2. 2עמותת צימאון – ויקיפדיהhe.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata Q98944644wikidata.org