SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT POST OCTOBER 7TH

The Project Importance

The trauma of war has intensified the need for accessible, specialized support for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence across southern Israel. Maslan is strengthening its professional, therapeutic and volunteer capacity to meet growing demand and ensure survivors across the Negev can access the support they need.

The Need

The trauma of October 7, the subsequent war and exposure to accounts of sexual violence have triggered pre-existing trauma and increased the need for mental health and crisis support. For survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, access to specialized care is critical to reducing isolation and supporting long-term recovery.

Demand for Maslan’s services has grown significantly. Before October 7, Maslan operated 12 support groups at its Beer Sheva center. Last year, it received more than 3,000 calls to its 24/7 multilingual helpline, provided over 300 accompaniment sessions, and expanded to 23 support and therapy groups.

Geography creates an additional barrier. Survivors across the Negev have reported difficulty reaching Maslan’s Beer Sheva center by public transportation. In response, Maslan has increased its presence in the Western Negev and Neve Midbar, improving access to specialized support in underserved areas.

Maslan anticipates continued demand as additional survivors seek support. At the same time, its volunteer network is under increasing pressure. Maslan has just over 100 active volunteers, many of whom have served for more than a decade and are experiencing burnout. Recruiting and training a new cohort, while strengthening support for existing volunteers, is essential to maintaining critical frontline services as demand continues.

Our Strategy & Solution

Maslan will provide at least 20 support and therapeutic groups while expanding access through partnerships in additional areas of the Negev. These professionally facilitated groups provide survivors with a safe environment to process trauma, reduce isolation, rebuild a sense of control and develop tools for long-term recovery.

Maslan uses therapeutic approaches including art, yoga and movement-based therapies alongside traditional talk therapy, providing survivors with different ways to process their experiences, strengthen emotional resilience and connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

Maslan will also continue providing accompaniment and legal assistance to survivors requesting support and will strengthen its professional capacity by hiring an additional social worker and case manager.

To strengthen frontline services, Maslan will recruit approximately 15 new volunteers through intensive training in domestic violence and sexual abuse. Together with Maslan’s existing 100+ volunteers, they will support the 24/7 multilingual helpline and chat service and accompany survivors to hospitals, police stations and legal proceedings.

New and existing volunteers will receive continuing education and professional supervision throughout the year to strengthen their skills and resilience and help prevent secondary trauma and burnout.

What sets our work apart?

Maslan – The Negev’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Support Center – has served southern Israel for over 37 years and is the only rape crisis center serving the Negev. Covering 60% of Israel geographically, from Kiryat Gat to Eilat, including the Gaza Envelope, Maslan combines specialized expertise with longstanding relationships with local authorities and communities.

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Project Goals/Objectives

Provide at least 20 support and therapeutic groups, with 10–15 participants per group.

Hire an additional social worker and case manager.

Recruit and train approximately 15 new volunteers in domestic violence and sexual abuse response.

Provide approximately 10 continuing education and supervision sessions for Maslan’s volunteer team.

Continue providing accompaniment and legal assistance to survivors requesting support.

* Costs necessary to hold half of the support groups and retreats each year.

Organization budget 2024, 2025, 2026

Project Impact

Annually, Maslan’s therapeutic and assistance services will reach more than 1,000 survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence across the Negev. Survivors will receive access to crisis intervention, therapeutic support, accompaniment and legal assistance designed to reduce isolation, strengthen coping skills and support their recovery.

Additional professional staff and trained volunteers will strengthen Maslan’s capacity to respond to demand across its large geographic service area, while ongoing volunteer supervision will help sustain the frontline workforce required to provide these services.

Quotes from Maslan’s Beneficiaries

“The path starts from here at Maslan. Step by step you will be in the right place and this group will always be behind you.”

“I learned to hug the girl that I was.”

“I began in the group feeling a disconnection between my soul and body, but I’m emerging with a sense of completion, understanding, and self-acceptance.”

“I discovered that there are strong, smart, incredible women that also went through this, and we are okay.”

“I trust my feelings and sensations without shame or guilt.”

Organization Brochure

Organization Mission

Maslan’s mission is to combat the widespread sexual and domestic violence that permeates Israeli society, providing an outlet and a resource for every victim, while simultaneously working as an agent for social change. Maslan aims to reduce gender-based violence in Israeli society by improving the overall status of Israeli women and girls by giving them a voice, showing them that they always have someone to turn to and raising awareness to the phenomenon of sexual and domestic violence.

Tags

At-Risk Children/Youth | CHESSED | Children | ISRAEL | Immigrant Communities | Periphery | Project Targeted | Seed Funding | South | Women at Risk