Participant Reflections

“Going on a service trip with YJ Teens to work with NECHAMA was an incredibly rewarding experience. We dedicated our time to restoring houses and cleaning up debris after Hurricane Helene. Witnessing the extent of the damage and the struggles of the affected families was heart-wrenching, but it made our efforts feel even more meaningful. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the recovery process and help those who suffered so much. This experience has taught me the importance of community and compassion, and I will always carry these lessons with me.”

Ivy Fishbein

“Interacting with homeowners and local residents gave me a deeper understanding of the emotional and personal toll disasters take on communities. Their resilience and determination to rebuild, despite the hardships, highlighted the importance of community-driven recovery efforts. I also realized that recovery isn’t just about physical rebuilding, but addressing the psychological and social needs of those affected. This trip has inspired me to be more proactive in supporting my own community, especially during times of crisis. Seeing the strength and unity of those who came together to help each other through such difficult circumstances reminded me of the power of collective action. I feel motivated to get involved in local relief efforts, whether through volunteering, raising awareness, or helping to build stronger, more resilient networks in my own area.”

Participant

“I really enjoyed helping on this Tikkun Olam project. It was fun and it felt amazing to help people that needed it. I gave up just a little bit of my time to help people so much. I would 100% do it again and I made new friends. I loved working with NECHAMA and they are an amazing organization and I love what they do. I would definitely recommend to someone else that they should do it.”

Lila Goldstein