Videocast of the local scene with Tali Chalaf, CEO of the organization 'Or Shalom' (Walla)
Ayam and Summer (not real names), parents of four children aged 10 to 22, knew from the first moment that they wanted a big family.
Aim, who works in a medical institution, and Samer, who owns a business, met 26 years ago.
Their initial connection is based on their desire to do good to others and start a family with many children.
"During the Corona period, my wife and I worked for hours and hours, and our little daughter stayed home alone for long hours. After six months, she asked us to adopt a sister so that she wouldn't be alone," says Summer, "my daughter's offer came right on time, Ayam and I talked a lot about Expanding the family, and that evening, after a short conversation, we already started looking for information on the Internet about the possibility of expanding the family, suddenly I noticed an ad from the Or Shalom organization."
Or Shalom is a veteran non-profit organization that has been operating for over 40 years, under the supervision of the Ministry of Welfare, in the care of children and youth at risk who have been removed from their parents' custody by the welfare authorities due to circumstances of extreme lack of protection and difficulties in parental functioning.
The organization sets itself the goal of providing all those children and youth with immediate protection, a warm home, a hugging hand and everything a child needs for normal development and a chance for a better present and future.
"We fell in love with her immediately"
When Ayam picked up the phone and called Or Shalom, she did not imagine that in less than a year a child would join their family, and that one phone call would change their lives.
The first step in the process was a telephone interview with a social worker, where the couple defined their desire and priority.
After the interview, a meeting was scheduled for them with the organization's team that came to their home to get an impression of their living environment and Mitar and the family members.
After the meeting, the couple waited patiently for several months until a suitable boy/girl was found for the family.
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They wanted to expand the family, but did not expect a baby girl.
A baby girl in a nursery (Photo: GettyImages)
The organization's professional staff consists of social workers and psychologists, in order to enable a meticulous screening procedure that strives to find an optimal match between the family and the child as similar as possible to the child's family while making sure to find a family with the same religious and cultural identity as the child.
Indeed, after a few months Ayam received the long-awaited phone call that a match had been found.
She was told that there was a two-week-old baby waiting at the hospital, even though the couple had asked for a more mature girl close to their daughter's age.
They arrived at the hospital with mixed feelings, but as soon as they saw the baby in her infancy, they felt an immediate connection to her.
"We fell in love with her and immediately felt that we were not leaving her in the hospital for even one minute," they say with excited eyes.
"As soon as I realized I had a little baby girl, I started running through my head how I would tell at work that I was going on maternity leave and would dedicate the next few months to caring for a helpless baby," Ayam says, "I didn't think we would go back to diapers, and get up at night, we are sure that this episode is behind us, but this baby slept our hearts and we decided to go for it with great love. Life is strong beyond imagination."
Upon receiving the phone call, they gathered their children in the living room and shared with them the process.
"We told them that a little baby girl came into our family whose parents left her in a hospital because they were unable to take care of her. It was important for us to convey to them the message that the child's biological parents are good people, that life has not been kind to them for various reasons and that from now on we will be her family and give her life full and happy".
Our family picture is complete now
Ayam and Summer's biological children take a large and very significant part in the care of the baby sister who joined the family.
They help in the showers, play and look after her.
"Our little daughter has become a 'little mother', she helps us a lot with the day-to-day care and feels very mature and responsible. It really empowered her."
Summer says, "She is the light and joy of our home. We really feel that our family picture is complete now. In a couple of months we will celebrate her birthday together with all our family and friends, our excitement is enormous."
Ayam extended her maternity leave from 3 months to 10 months because she felt she wanted to be present in the first stages of the baby's life and to give her the hug and the sense of security she so desperately needs.
"All our relatives are very supportive of us taking this significant step because they know it is an expression of our way of life and our faith. We believe in volunteering and doing good. This is the motto of our lives and this is how we educate our child as well. Two weeks ago she said "Daddy" and it made us happy , great excitement and a great sense of belonging and success. We feel lucky to have received the girl and raise her with love, it's a good feeling of mutual giving - we give her and receive a lot from her."
"There is a plight of children from the Arab sector"
"Today there is a great plight of boys and girls from the Arab sector who are forced to leave their homes to out-of-home settings due to various risk situations. We at the Or Shalom organization are currently looking for foster families for 27 children from the Arab sector in the central region," says Tali Khalaf, the organization's CEO Or Shalom, "It is important to note that foster families are accompanied by foster care bodies supervised by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security and receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Welfare, for the benefit of the child's upbringing so that foster care does not become a financial burden on the family."
We are now looking for foster families for 27 children (Photo: Sepek 500, Or Shalom Association)
In addition, a professional team of the organization consisting of therapists and social workers of the organization defined as "fostering guides" accompany the family and the foster children throughout the journey, and help solve difficulties and dilemmas in the fostering process.
I call on families to join the act of fostering and gain an incomparable sense of satisfaction and mission."
Families interested in being foster families of Or Shalom are invited to go to the Or Shalom website and register for more details. You can also call the phone number: *8936 and WhatsApp: 051-2400312
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Foster family
adoption
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