Open Space

Open Space is a program designed as a safe unstructured hangout center where youth from the ages of 14 and up can come and be with their friends. The idea of the program was to establish a “cool” place where the teenagers in the neighborhood come to and spend their evenings in a safer environment, rather than engaging in at-risk activites. The Open Space program is held at the Kat Gan in the Shapira community and opens up several nights a week.

Friends by Nature works in collaboration with Yahel Israel on the project.  Yahel Israel has spent time building trust and working together with Friends by Nature to understand the needs of the youth in the community.

In order to attract the youth to Open Space, the Yahelnikim and the Gar’in members walked around the neighborhood and invited teens to come. Word would soon get around about the games, friends, and the great atmosphere. A number of new faces show up weekly. The Yahelnikim brought in a borrowed Wii, and started to think of other projects.

In order to make Open Space attractive to more teens, the Yahelnikim were looking to upgrade the “space” part of Open Space. They have added more games and equipment — chess, checkers, backgammon, cards, board games, a Wii station controllers, a ping pong table, and a pool table.

We at Friends by Nature are very excited by the success of the Open Space Program!

Learn more about our programs.