AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE CHILD

This program assists children and youth victimized by crime, or by witnessing crime, to cope with its damaging impact on them, as well as with their involuntary involvement in the criminal judicial process. This program responds to these special hardships. This response is both unique and important; as it is not provided by any other governmental or voluntary body.

         

In order to overcome the difficulties of the court process , tens of volunteers and law students are recruited and trained to serve as personal companions to the child victims.

 

The companion provides assistance, aide and support by providing the child and his or her family with information about the proceedings, answers to any questions that they may have, referrals to counseling services, the arrangement of pretrial meetings between prosecutor and victim, and a tour of the courtroom and accompaniment in court on the day of trial. The child also has the companion's number for emotional support or questions that arise at any time - day or night.

 

 

Words of thanks from someone helped by the program:

"How do I write a letter to someone who did so much for me? With thanks? And do I write how much she helped me by being there? That her smile and her glance were with me just when I needed them most? That every time she put her hand on my shoulder it gave me the strength to continue to fight for what I believe in and for what I know is right?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just one of the hundreds of youth assisted by the program:

 

Yaara, a 17-year-old, was raped by a boy at the boarding school she attends.  The boy was supposed to be a friend; a classmate. After the event, Yaara's mental state got worse and she became afraid to leave her room at school. What would she do if she ran into him? Would he hurt her again? She was afraid and she felt alone.  Yaara's mother did not support her and she had no contact at all with her father.

 

The Police investigator referred Yaara to the NCC Child Victim Assistance Program and a companion from the project immediately went into action on her behalf.  She explained to Yaara about the criminal process, talked with the Social Worker about finding a solution to help her overcome her fears at the boarding school, and updated her about the developments in her case, the investigation and the transfer of her case to the district attorney's office.

 

The companion became the person who supported Yaara every time kids from the boarding school harassed her because of the case and when the boy sent some girls from the boarding school to try and pressure her into retracting her complaint. When Yaara was called to meet with the attorney, even before an indictment was issued, the companion was there to ease her fears and continued to accompany Yaara during her entire testimony and legal process. Yaara called the companion whenever she felt in distress.  She was no longer alone.