What began as a need has evolved into hands-on action, meaningful training, and a foundation for long-term change

Israeli society is facing a sharp increase in the number of individuals in need of support and a caring presence, as well as a rise in those at risk of developing mental health conditions. This is a result of ongoing exposure to trauma, loss, displacement, and economic hardship—realities that have become even more pressing since the October 7th, 2023 disaster and the Iron Swords War.

What Can Be Done?

Training active citizens in psycho-social knowledge and support skills can strengthen the mentor’s own personal resilience—and, in turn, their natural ability to stand by others and support them.
Such a program also creates meaningful oppurtunities for engagement, both through structured activities and by fostering a supportive human presence in everyday life.

How Does It Work in Practice?

The “Community Mentors” program adds meaningful human resources to the education, welfare, and mental health systems by training and integrating citizens who undergo structured professional training. These individuals become ambassadors of psycho-social knowledge and resilience-building skills.

People Supporting People – in a Meaningful Community Role

The mentors join welfare and/or mental health frameworks as individual or group support companions, offering information, guidance, and emotional assistance.
They accompany service users aged 16 and above who are dealing with life challenges, through direct dialogue and a defined set of supportive actions.

The close, personal connection between the mentors and the people they support also allows for the early identification of conditions that require referral to professional services. In this way, the mentors also act as gatekeepers, helping detect early signs of risk or emerging mental health issues.

Community Mentors: Key Components

Training

Psycho-social education combining theoretical knowledge with practical tools for meaningful interpersonal connection.

Civic Engagement in the Field

Weekly involvement in diverse community settings throughout the year.

Professional Coordination

A dedicated coordinator is responsible for field placement, ongoing guidance for mentors, and communication and working relations among all stakeholders.

Unique Reporting System

A designated digital platform for reporting field activity, enabling oversight, learning, and continuous improvement.

Independent Evaluation and Assessment

An ongoing evaluation, assessment and research processes led by a national steering committee.

Training and Civic Involvement Structure

Mentors participate in a 50-hour training program focused on key psycho-social challenges within Israeli society.

The training includes both theoretical and practical components:

The theoretical part covers foundational issues in Israeli society.
The practical part focuses on developing interpersonal skills and tools for supportive engagement with service users.

Throughout the year, participants also practice resilience-building skills using a specialized training tool—"Finding the Tools"—developed in collaboration with Reichman University and tailored specifically to this program.

Where Is the Program Active?

The pilot program is taking place during the 2024–2025 academic year at three academic institutions across Israel: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Sapir Academic College and Tel Hai Academic College. In 2025-2026 the program will extend to several additional institutions.

Approximately 200 mentors are already participating in the program during the academic year 2024-2025, placed in about 40 field placements, and providing meaningful human support to roughly 1,000 service users in both individual and group settings from the North to the South of Israel.

Each participant is supported by a dedicated institutional coordinator—from placement matching to ongoing field guidance.

Amit in the Community – Building the Foundation for Stronger Community Resilience