Launched in March 2008, the Eye Squad exists to “keep an eye out” for the more than 7,000 North American and other Anglo students spending a shanah ba’aretz, or post-high school year in Israel. All of the Eye Squad’s endeavors aim to help students adjust, cope, and thrive, through information, emotional support, and the peace of mind that we are here if they need us.
The Eye Squad’s founders felt that there was a missing piece in the support network available to these students—an independent body without ties to any specific school or program where young adults can find impartial, no-questions-asked support while studying in a foreign country, away from home.
Our flagship program is the Eye Squad Hotline, a 24-hour service which can be reached by dialing *9111 from any phone in Israel. Trained counselors are on-call at all times to listen to students who need to talk to someone and to respond with appropriate suggestions and guidance. In less than a year of existence, hotline counselors have helped students deal with a wide variety of issues, from homesickness to drug concerns to interpersonal relationships and coping with loss.
Read more about the Eye Squad Hotline here.
This year also saw the launch of the BAYIT program – Building A Year in Israel Together – which pairs visiting students with “buddy” families for the duration of their time in Israel. Read more about BAYIT.
Download the Eye Squad Brochure
