Of all the things a child might miss after leaving his country, sometimes it is the simplest things that stay closest to the heart. A familiar place. The people you love. The little routines that once felt so ordinary. For Ivan Shapiro, one of those places is his grandparents’ little house in the countryside near Minsk, Belarus—a place filled with memories of the life he knew before everything changed.
Four months ago, Ivan and his family made aliyah and began a completely new life in Israel. They left behind the home where they had built their lives, familiar streets, family, and everything that had once made life feel predictable. Starting over in a new country is never simple, but slowly, Israel is beginning to feel more familiar. Ivan has already made new friends, and he loves having the sea nearby. There are new places to discover, new friendships beginning, and so much his parents hope will become part of a beautiful future here.
But one big challenge remains: Ivan does not yet speak Hebrew.
He will only begin formal Hebrew language classes in September, and as he prepares for his first full school year in Israel, the language barrier is the one thing that worries him most. Imagine being ten years old and walking into a classroom where you cannot yet understand everything your teacher is saying. Imagine wanting to join a conversation but not knowing the words, or simply hoping that when you walk through those school doors, you will find your place.
For Ivan’s parents, this is part of both the hope and the vulnerability of beginning again. Leaving the home where they had built their lives was the hardest part of making aliyah. Now, like every parent, they want what is best for their son. They hope he will learn the language, find his place, build lasting friendships, and discover that Israel is not simply the country they moved to, but truly home.
In just a few weeks, Ivan will begin that next chapter. And this is where we can come alongside him.
For Ivan, receiving a new backpack filled with school essentials is about more than supplies. It means walking into school prepared. It means beginning alongside his classmates with confidence and one less reason to feel different. For a child who has already left so much behind, a simple act of kindness can carry a powerful message: We see you. You belong here. You are not beginning again alone.
Ivan is one child—but this year, 350 children from newly arrived immigrant families are preparing for their own new beginning. Each one has a name. Each one has a story. Each one has something they left behind and something they are hoping to find here in Israel. Through this project, we want to place more than school supplies into their hands. We want to welcome them home with dignity, practical care, and the love of Yeshua.
What Each Child Receives
- A quality backpack
- School supplies
- A voucher for additional school supplies and educational needs
Ways You Can Help
- $50 — Helps provide school supplies.
- $100 — Helps provide a quality backpack and practical school essentials.
- $220 — Fully equips one child for the school year.
Would You Help One Child Begin Again?
Together, we can help Ivan—and hundreds of children just like him—walk into this new school year knowing they have not been forgotten. Every gift becomes part of someone’s new beginning. Every child we help is another child we have the privilege of welcoming home.
Thanks and God bless!
