Touch wood - it helps :)
Every day, artist Sasha Galitsky and his colleagues support Israelis affected by the war, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups by knocking on wood – that is, engaging in wood carving using Sasha's unique method. This team has been conducting classes for several years now, and they have transformed into BAOBAB (https://www.baobabstudios.org).
BAOBAB is effectively saving many during this very difficult time: creative activities not only help people relieve stress but also become a motivation to survive. Right now, BAOBAB urgently needs your help to continue its work this year and the next.
What does BAOBAB do
BAOBAB is an Israeli volunteer project that helps the most vulnerable groups of people: residents of nursing homes and simply elderly individuals, displaced persons affected by the war, people with disabilities, and those facing psychological issues. Combining artistic activity with a certain physical load, wood carving helps people alleviate anxiety, train cognitive abilities, take pride in themselves, enjoy the results of their labor, and maintain social skills. Currently, BAOBAB operates in two permanent locations: in Holon and Ramat Gan.
Over the past year, the educators and volunteers at the center have been working with displaced persons from the south and north of the country in their temporary locations in Tel Aviv and Haifa. Interest in the classes is growing, and the need for them is enormous. The BAOBAB team even opened a free school to train future educators.
BAOBAB is funded by its founders, but their resources are insufficient to organize classes for everyone who would like to attend regularly and to open new centers. Therefore, BAOBAB wants to grow: permanent centers are very much needed in the south and north of the country, in various cities across Israel.
Who makes up BAOBAB
It is a team of artists, teachers, specialists in elderly psychology, social project organizers, economists, and specialists in interaction with commercial and non-profit organizations. Among them:
- Sasha Galitsky - founder, author of the method.
- Emil Guberman - CEO of the project.
- Tatyana Galitsky - co-founder, ceramics, art and history of art teacher.
- Raya Riger and Irina Lipsky - specialists in elderly care and social entrepreneurs.
- Sergey Zakharov - psychologist specializing in elderly issues.
- Marina Rayskin, Yegor Berkovich, Ekaterina Belenkaya, Alexey Propiszkov - wood carving teacher.
- Irina Sychev - ceramics teacher.
- Lina Nepomnashchaya - creative arts teacher.
What has already been done
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A creative methodology has been developed for conducting classes, and a method for teaching this to future BAOBAB instructors has been established.
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Two fully operational centers have been created in Ramat Gan and Holon.
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A school for training future BAOBAB educators has been established.
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Long-term weekly support programs have been launched for elderly displaced persons from the Re'im and Nir Am kibbutzim, as well as from the cities of Sderot, Kiryat Shmona, and Shlomi.
What is lacking
Funds for:
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Launching long-term support programs for residents of southern and northern Israel.
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Renting spaces for new BAOBAB schools for the upcoming year.
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Developing the BAOBAB educators' school.
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Purchasing and maintaining equipment for existing and new BAOBAB schools.
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Salaries for teachers and other project staff.
How to support
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bit (only in Israel) 0526053635
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Bank transfer (only in Israel) בנק הפועלים 12, סניף 661 רעננה, חשבון 501500 ע״ש תדי - תמיכה דרך יצירה
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for donation by credit card or PayPal, just go here:
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If you want to support us in any other way, please write to us at info@baobabstudios.org, Telegram +972 52 6053635 or Watsapp +972 52 6053635, and we will arrange everything.
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And once again - thank you very much!
Thank you in advance for your help! Even small donations are very important to us, as they eventually add up to significant amounts.
One time
Monthly
$10.00
$25.00
$50.00
$100.00
$750.00
Other