Kishorit is an extraordinary residential community in the Western Galilee for 150 adults with developmental disabilities and mental health issues. Awarded kibbutz status by the State of Israel, Kishorit recognizes the ability of every member to contribute to the community and offers members a full life including work and leisure activities, opportunities for integration into the broader community, private, dignified living quarters, medical supervision and nursing care for senior citizens.
Five aspects of daily life come together at Kishorit to create a supportive environment that encourages personal development and achievement:
Partnership in a community – in Kishorit, communal life offers members a full opportunity for significant social integration.
Work – Kishorit members are provided with a wide range of employment opportunities both within the kibbutz and in the neighboring communities.
Residence – Respect for individual dignity guarantees a private living space for each member.
Health – Kishorit’s holistic approach emphasizes considerations of environment and nutrition through a variety of medical approaches.
Leisure – Kishorit maintains a full program of social and educational activities for the after-work hours.
Kishorit provides a broad range of occupations, enabling members to work in agriculture - with plants and with animals - in crafts and industry, communications and services. It is hoped in future to be able to offer work in other fields, such as the various arts. It should be noted that many of the occupations that provide meaningful employment and are commercially viable are the agricultural enterprises. Work in agriculture means contact with nature, with plants and with animals. In many studies it has been shown to be of great therapeutic value, and is proven especially effective for people suffering from mental or physical disabilities.
Kishorit creates a framework that includes training for life skills as well as occupational training. Training is conducted individually or in small groups, in graduated stages and in keeping with individual functioning and difficulties, which vary from person to person. It is provided to suit the specific needs of the project in which the member is employed, or in preparation for occupations required in the open market.