The Kamah Association – Curative Community at Kibbutz Harduf was founded in 1993 and has been in a constant process of growth and development ever since. Kamah provides a protected environment for children and adults who require special support and enables them to realize their unique potentials.
The Curative Therapeutic Approach Kamah employs is inspired by the work of Dr. Rudolf Steiner. It emphasizes the healthy core of inner strength that exists within each human-being impelling each of us to advance, seek meaning and cope with life's challenges. We strongly believe in the ability of each individual to lead a rich and rewarding life despite of any disadvantage or disability. The principles of the Curative Approach are implemented in all spheres of our work (from the architecture of buildings to questions of nutrition, medicine, therapy and education) transforming equality, dignity and empowerment from abstract ideas to ways of living. Kamah operates as a community within a community: our members are an integral part of Kibbutz Harduf and enrich the community as much as they are assisted by it.
The Kamah Association Operates Three Curative Communities:
The Tuvia Community: a warm and caring home for 65 at-risk children and youth who have been removed from their homes due to severe violence, abuse or neglect. The children of the Tuvia Community live in family-styled homes with a pair of house-parents and a multiage group of 8-10 children. Through a personally tailored therapeutic program, the Tuvia Community helps its members acquire the emotional capabilities, social skills and academic credentials that will enable them to set and attain their own goals in the future.
The Beit Elisha Community: a permanent residence and a home-for-life for 65 developmentally and physically disabled adults. The Beit Elisha members are men and women with congenital, trauma-related, social and cognitive disabilities. Members live in community homes alongside staff, and work in a variety of rehabilitative vocational workshops. Beit Elisha puts special emphasis on facilitating a vibrant social and cultural life: members enjoy a rich program of excursions, interest clubs and social events and participate in a weekly day of learning.
House at the Gilboa: our newly established curative community in Kibbutz Merav was created in collaboration with a local group of social entrepreneurs in order to bring the curative model to the Jewish modern orthodox sector. It caters specifically for religiously observant women with developmental disableties, and at the moment provides home for 5 members.
Our Staff is comprised of 20 full-time staff members and around 80 members employed in part-part time positions: educators, psychologists, social workers, therapists, counselors, workshop coordinators, administrators and more. The work of the staff is supported by the help of 20 young volunteers from Israel and abroad participating in a one-year volunteer program in Harduf, and by the generous support of many members of the kibbutz community who volunteer their time as host families, mentors and tutors.
The Kamah Center: In 2010, The Kamah Association inaugurated the Kamah Center, serving the members of both the Beit Elisha and the Tuvia communities and operating as the nerve center of the association. The Kasierer Kamah Center houses the Kamah Learning Center, the "Beit Elisha" rehabilitative vocational workshops, meeting rooms, halls and therapy rooms, a professionally equipped kitchen and bakery and the Kamah Gallery and Café.
The Kamah Association –Curative Community at Kibbutz Harduf is a registered association. All our programs are recognized, supervised and funded by the Israeli Ministry of Social Affairs. The Kamah association receives U.S.A. tax exempted donations under code 501(c)(3) through PEF - Israel Endowment Funds, Inc.
