Waldbaum Center: A New Early Childhood Center, Ashkelon

The war has pushed an already fragile situation past the breaking point. Today, rehabilitative care for young children in Ashkelon is delivered in four crumbling residential homes, none of which were designed for clinical use. The spaces are overcrowded and poorly adapted. Most concerning, they offer little to no protection during attacks. One center has no safe room. The other three cannot hold all the children and staff.

When sirens sound, caregivers are expected to move entire classes of fragile, often non-ambulatory toddlers to shelter in under 30 seconds. It’s not possible. Each incident causes distress and trauma for the children, their families, and the staff who care for them. 

During periods of intense conflict, the centers must shut down entirely. The children then miss out on essential therapies at a time when every day counts. These early years, between six months and three years, are a critical window for brain development. Interruptions in care at this stage can result in lifelong setbacks.

We are working urgently to replace these inadequate centers with one purpose-built, fortified facility that will offer a safe, accessible, and nurturing environment for 40 children. There, they will receive uninterrupted early intervention services, regardless of the security situation.