Safe Space

A safe space offers a sense of security during times of uncertainty and ambiguity, helping individuals manage extreme traumas and events while reducing their future post-traumatic impact. These spaces integrate emotional safety, mindfulness, and biofeedback processes, alongside trauma-informed education, within a physical and emotional environment designed to provide comfort. Following the events of October 7th, many people from southern and northern Israel were displaced for an extended and uncertain period, facing complex, severe crises and multiple traumas.

 

Ran Cohen Aharonov, a team member of Safe Harbor, and Galit Itzhaki Draizin, the academic director of Safe Harbor,  established an academic and field collaboration to teach the concept of ambiguous loss and the creation of safe spaces. Drawing on both local and international experience, they introduced this subject in joint courses at Safe Harbor Safe spaces are critical for emotional regulation in both children and adults, helping families process and adapt to extreme circumstances. Over the past ten months, Ran, together with the EARLYSTARTERS team, has helped establish dozens of such centers in war zones, providing crucial support.

 

In areas where communities have remained under constant threat without relocating, two safe spaces are currently being developed following a request from local leadership. This effort, led by Mr. Nihad Rada, founder and CEO of the Hadeva Theater, in coordination with local authorities in the four villages of the northern Golan Heights (Majdal Shams, Mas'ade, Buq'ata, Ein Qiniyye) and the "Resources" resilience center, aims to support the Druze communities impacted by Hizballah attacks. These initiatives follow the devastating attack in Majdal Shams, which claimed the lives of 12 children and young people. Our thoughts and solidarity are with the grieving families and the broader community.