SOS Children Village Bridge to Independence

Turning 18 is a significant moment of change. For most young people, it marks the beginning of an independent life – higher education, work, relationships, a home of their own and plans for the future. But alongside the excitement come many questions: How do you manage your money? How do you find a job? How do you make important decisions on your own? And how do you build a life of your own when you do not always have a family to rely on?

For young people who have grown up in SOS Children’s Villages, this transition can be particularly challenging. After years of having the village as their home, they step into adulthood with hopes and dreams, but also with a need for guidance, a listening ear and a place they can turn to.

Bridge to Independence, operated in partnership with the Ministry of Welfare, supports young people at precisely this important point in their lives.

Today, the program operates 16 apartments in communities across Israel, home to 96 young men and women. Up to six young people live in each apartment, creating a home of their own – a place where they learn to live independently, make decisions, take responsibility and gradually discover their own strengths and abilities.

Apartment mentors and the program team are there to support them along the way, helping with planning for the future, financial management, education and vocational training, entering the workforce and meaningful service, accessing their rights and strengthening family relationships.

Because true independence is not simply about learning to manage on your own. It is also about knowing that someone believes in you, knows you and will be there when you need them.

Bridge to Independence gives every young person the confidence, tools and opportunity to build an independent, stable and meaningful life – knowing that even when they leave the village, they never have to face the journey alone.

Transitional Apartments

18 - 26

Ages

Belonging and Independence

The transition from residential care to independent living is a significant turning point for any young woman. For young Haredi women without a stable family support system, it brings a unique tension: the desire to build an independent life, make decisions and grow, while remaining connected to the identity, faith and Haredi way of life that are an integral part of who they are.

The Haredi Cluster Apartments were created with the understanding that young women can grow toward independence without giving up their sense of belonging. They provide a safe, respectful and supportive environment where young women can develop, gain practical life skills and make decisions with confidence, while maintaining their values and way of life.

The program combines spiritual guidance with practical tools for adult life, alongside a dedicated team that knows each young woman, supports her and remains there along the way.

Because independence does not mean going alone. It means moving forward knowing there is a place where you are understood, respected and believed in.

The goal is to help every young woman build her life with confidence and choice, stay connected to what matters to her, and know that she is not alone.

Her Strength

Building a life of your own is not always easy. But when you are doing it largely on your own, without a stable family support system and with so many questions along the way, the journey can be even more challenging.

Female Empowerment was created to give our young women a space to pause, get to know themselves and discover their own strengths.

The program supports young women as they make their way toward independent lives, providing a safe space where they can grow, explore, make mistakes, learn and gradually build the confidence to make their own choices. They gain tools for navigating complex situations, building healthy and supportive relationships, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and strengthening their belief in their ability to shape their own future.

The program combines individual support from a mentor and career counselors with group sessions exploring identity, relationships, sexuality and ways of dealing with conflict. Through career workshops, the young women learn to recognize their strengths, set goals and plan practical steps toward achieving them.

Because independence is not only about being able to manage on your own. It is about knowing your worth, setting boundaries, choosing what is right for you and believing that you are allowed to want more.

Female Empowerment gives every young woman the space, tools and support to recognize her own strengths, choose her own path and build an independent, healthy and meaningful future.