Recently, an elderly man said to me, “I rely on two things to keep me alive: an oxygen tank and you.”

I am Sasha Galitsky, an established artist and published author. Twenty years ago, I began teaching wood carving to nursing home residents, and ever since, I’ve been sharing my passion for creativity with those who need it most. This journey has shown me a simple yet profound truth: creativity restores resilience and brings life back to the soul, especially for those who have faced hardship.

Through my time with these individuals, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary power of the creative process—not just as a form of expression, but as a way to heal, rebuild, and restore well-being. Whether with a chisel, a paintbrush, scissors, or even a harmonica, the tools themselves don’t matter. What matters is the intention: to heal and restore through creativity.

Over the years, this mission has grown. Today, through Baobab Studios, we are expanding our unique methodology of healing through art, passion, and creativity to support all those impacted by war and adversity.

Join us in this transformative journey.

Together, we can restore hope, resilience, and well-being to those who need it most.

Since the beginning of the war, Baobab Studios has been dedicated to supporting one of the most vulnerable segments of Israeli society — the displaced seniors. 

Tens of thousands of elderly individuals, facing emotional, physical, and mental challenges, have been forced to leave their homes and communities.

Today, Baobab Studios provides critical support to over 150 displaced seniors from Be'eri, Reim, Nir Am, Kissufim, Kiryat Shmona, Shlomi, and other war-affected settlements.

Currently operating in 14 locations, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias, Netanya, Zikhron Yaakov, Hazerim, and Omer, Baobab Studios offers unique wood carving lessons that combine artistic expression with physical activity. This proven methodology, developed by founder Sasha Galitsky, helps restore emotional resilience, reduce anxiety, and bring moments of joy and purpose to seniors.

This vital work must continue and expand to meet the growing needs.

At Baobab Studios, we invite artists to join our mission of restoring resilience and well-being to displaced seniors across Israel.

Our unique program trains artists to collaborate with seniors using a proven art-based methodology developed by Sasha Galitsky.

As part of this program, artists gain professional tools for working with people in traumatic realities while making a profound social impact. Many of our teachers, including new immigrants, find this role an opportunity to integrate into Israeli society and contribute to one of the country’s most pressing challenges.

Baobab Studios is growing—expanding to 25 locations and reaching over 1,000 seniors by 2025. Our teachers play a vital role in this journey, combining creativity, healing, and community rebuilding.

Learn more about becoming a Baobab teacher and making a difference.