Testimonies
We’ve told and written a lot about our vision, about the work Shavim NGO for Occupational Rehabilitation does, the plans for the future, the training courses... Now it’s time to hear first hand about the experience, the value, and the transition from psychiatric disability to normal life via occupational training.
What graduates of our occupational rehabilitation courses say
Testimonies about SHAVIM NGO
At a young age, when I was 23 years old, I entered the Shavim factory in Haifa. I came to a new world, met people who were older than me, I was having such a hard time that I can barely even describe it.
From what I remember, the staff at the factory accepted me and blessed me and got to know me.
At first it was very hard for me to get acclimatized, to get used to a new environment, but slowly I got used to it
and overcame the difficulty, and this to a large part was thanks to the warm and supportive staff.
At first I worked around 3 days until I got used to things, and since then that I have been working 5 days a week.
I worked in the sorting and packing department and until now I have been working in the same department because I enjoy it.
I managed to be on good terms with most of the people in rehabilitation, we were on good terms with each other until we became friends.
Now I know and believe that I am highly capable, and always get compliments from the staff. I know that I do all the stages accurately and well.
Until now I didn’t fit in to supported employment even though there were a few attempts to convince me, and each time the rehabilitation program is developed with the rehabilitation coordinator, this issue came up and I refuse and decline, the most important thing for me is to hold a good quality job, because I feel fulfilled.
I simply enjoy the work, the staff, the other people undergoing rehabilitation, the salary, and the treatment that I never got out in the world.
I love you and I hope that I continue working at the factory.
P.A. from Haifa
I used to be a very active man, I worked at a garage doing the most complicated jobs for around 24 years.
One day, in addition to the numerous physical challenges I face, such as chronic arthritis and a herniated disc for which I was treated at a pain clinic, I had a mental breakdown. I didn’t want to go on living, I tried to commit suicide several times.
After three months in hospital and nine months of outpatient care, I got to the Shavim factory in Tiberius. On the first day I walked out and was planning on leaving and probably try to commit suicide again as soon as I got home.
Alin caught me and talked to me, and as a result I gave the place another chance, and now, a year and a half later I am a successful guide. I lead the most complex projects, open and close the factory, and prepare the work for the employees.
When I recount this, I wonder how it looks to the staff that a week after I started I went to Alin’s office and told her I wanted to be a guide. A few months later, when a course opened up at the initiatives center in Haifa for service provider consumers, I took part in it.
I slowly took on more and more responsibility at the factory, complex jobs like refurbishing water meters, assembling vests, and more.
I realized that while helping others I get stronger and start going back to who I was before my breakdown.
Now I am responsible for the factory’s projects and am planning to go on a forklift course and more.
During my work at the factory I met the rehabilitation coordinator who helped me not only to cope at the factory but also with the challenges at home. As soon as the pressure at home decreased because of the change in my behavior, I started to improve greatly from a health aspect and to succeed more.
One of the biggest challenges for Arabs with mental illness is the stigma and this is the main difficulty for me and for other people in my situation, which is the main reason that they do not get the treatment and help that is offered to them.
Hi,
Up until a year and a half ago I worked at the Shavim Kfar Saba factory for 8 months.
At first it was really hard for me.
I told Yael, the coordinator at the factory, that I couldn’t work at all.
They were very considerate of me and let me come to the factory twice a week, for 3 hours a time.
The warmth, appreciation, support and encouragement from the staff really worked and helped me move forward and later I managed to work 5 days a week.
Throughout this period I learned a lot at work and even started working in the electrical department.
Words cannot describe how caring and invested the staff is, even in aspects that are beyond work matters.
During this time I was prepped for work in the free market and later I was hired to work at a factory that manufactures electronic circuits, working as a circuit assembler.
I’m pleased, and am really valued by my superiors at work.
Even after working in the free market for a year I would come to Shavim once a week, on Fridays, and continue receiving the support and encouragement that was so important to me.
Now I continue to get occupational guidance from Natan, the placement coordinator, and I’m very happy about it.
The warmth that I get from him, the help, the support, the encouragement, and the interest in my wellbeing help me a great deal to succeed at work.
I wish the Shavim staff all the best, blessings and success in everything you do.
Continue doing the important work you do to help more people who are coping with mental illness successfully integrate in the free market.
At a young age, when I was 23 years old, I entered the Shavim factory in Haifa. I came to a new world, met people who were older than me, I was having such a hard time that I can barely even describe it.
From what I remember, the staff at the factory accepted me and blessed me and got to know me.
At first it was very hard for me to get acclimatized, to get used to a new environment, but slowly I got used to it
and overcame the difficulty, and this to a large part was thanks to the warm and supportive staff.
At first I worked around 3 days until I got used to things, and since then that I have been working 5 days a week.
I worked in the sorting and packing department and until now I have been working in the same department because I enjoy it.
I managed to be on good terms with most of the people in rehabilitation, we were on good terms with each other until we became
friends.
Now I know and believe that I am highly capable, and always get compliments from the staff. I know that I do all the stages accurately and well.
Until now I didn’t fit in to supported employment even though there were a few attempts to convince me, and each time the rehabilitation program is developed with the rehabilitation coordinator, this issue came up and I refuse and decline, the most important thing for me is to hold a good quality job, because I feel fulfilled.
I simply enjoy the work, the staff, the other people undergoing rehabilitation, the salary, and the treatment that I never got out in the world.
I love you and I hope that I continue working at the factory.
P.A. from Haifa
At the time I worked in metalwork. In 2013 I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for two weeks because of a suicide attempt, where I received medication and then I started to stabilize. After the hospital stay I was referred to a Shavim sheltered workshop by the social worker who helped me.
On the first day working at the factory during a morning break, I ran away. The next day the factory manager came to my home and told me to come back. She said that I seemed talented, and asked me to help her find subcontracting jobs for the factory. I really have to hand it to her.
I went back to the factory the next day and started working. The staff saw what I was good at and let me work on an electrical cable machine, connecting the cables to the generators. At the time I also did the gardening work outside the factory. Then I was offered a different job at the factory, of factory maintenance, which I spent three years doing. I learned about the machines on my own. In my past I used to be a maintenance worker at a hotel in Eilat so I had the professional background.
Later the manager called me in for a talk and offered that I do a forklift license. I did the license and within a few days I got the license. I also completed the factory’s safety course. Then I also had an assistant guide job. Now I am a maintenance worker, forklift operator and assistant guide.
I feel so grateful to my previous manager who led me to who I am at the factory today, at the beginning she was the only one who could handle me. Whenever I did something right or something wrong, she was always there for me. I feel at home at the factory, I feel good, not like before when I wasn’t eating or drinking. I got a grip and helped myself. As soon as I got a push I took the opportunity and moved forward.
Now I have been at the factory for 8 years. I want to thank the staff at the factory who gave me the opportunity to get to where I am now and to turn me into a new person.
My name’s Tami, I’m 39 years old, married +3.
In 2014, as a result of a crisis I experienced, I reached Shavim and started working at several jobs at the sheltered workshop.
After about 3 months, as part of the EYAL [Ani Yachol LeHazliach - I can succeed] project, I worked for a year at a drug concept company.
During this time I was prepped for work in the free market and later I was hired to work as a teacher’s helper at a kindergarten, where I worked for around 3 years.
After expressing an interest to change industries, I met with Natan, the placement coordinator, and we started thinking about other industries I could work in.
Natan recommended me for a satisfaction survey job at a survey company called MIS, where I worked as a surveyer at a call center for around a year and a half.
Because of a medical problem I had to quit this job.
I continued to meet with Natan and he suggested that I apply the experience I gained in the survey industry and as someone coping with mental illness and to work as a staff member at Shavim Kfar Saba as a guide and shift supervisor training and managing other people coping with mental illness at the survey center that was established at the factory.
I really loved and enjoyed counseling people with mental illness and for me this was a sort of closure.
After the survey project ended, I had to end my employment at Shavim.
During my meetings with Natan I told him that I really liked working with special needs people and I wanted my next job to be similar.
Natan searched and found a job as a guide at a Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services sheltered workshop for people with special needs.
I have been working there for around two months as a guide, I really enjoy the work and how well I have fit in there.
I have immense gratitude and appreciation for the staff at Shavim who helped and continue to help me fulfill my potential.