Heroes for Life

Heroes for Life is an Israeli non-governmental organization established in 2013 by three former officers of the Israel Defense Forces' Duvdevan unit. The organization emerged from the founders' experience traveling in Asia after completing military service, a journey commonly taken by Israeli soldiers after discharge. While staying on Ko Samui, Thailand, one of the founders, Gili, observed the large number of young Israeli backpackers traveling through developing countries. He concluded that this existing network of motivated, mobile Israelis could be organized into short-term humanitarian delegations rather than remaining only a tourism phenomenon. The organization's model combines overseas volunteering with an Israel-based preparation requirement. Prospective delegates must first volunteer for three days in a youth village in Israel. After that orientation, selected participants join teams that generally spend about two weeks working with children and local communities. Projects described for the organization include teaching English, mathematics, music, personal values, hygiene, and dental health; renovating shelters and community buildings; supporting agricultural work; painting and restoring residential facilities; and providing basic dental care through participating professionals. The program is designed around continuity: where possible, successive delegations return to the same children and partner communities, allowing relationships and projects to continue beyond a single visit. Heroes for Life presents its work both as humanitarian service and as a form of people-to-people representation for Israel. Delegations commonly cooperate with local non-governmental organizations, Israeli or local Jewish communities, and community groups in host countries. Weekday activity often focuses on children and physical improvements to schools, shelters, or community centers, while weekend programming may involve Jewish communities and youth movements. The organization's teams are named in memory of people who died in military service or other circumstances. Examples include the Danielle team, named in memory of Danielle Sonnenfeld, and the Argentina-based Oz team, named for Sergeant Oz Mendelovic. Its overseas activity initially included India and Brazil and later expanded to Nepal, Ethiopia, South Africa, Argentina, Guatemala, and Mexico. In India, delegations have worked in Mumbai-area communities since 2014, combining lessons, health-related activities, building improvements, and contact with the local Jewish community. Brazil programs have involved Israeli backpackers teaching in Rio de Janeiro communities and helping renovate community facilities. Ethiopia, Nepal, South Africa, and planned or reported programs in Guatemala and Mexico similarly centered on children's education, health awareness, and improvements to shelters or residential spaces. The organization has been chaired by former Israeli Air Force commander Eliezer Shkedi, according to the referenced encyclopedia account. Its public profile is therefore connected to both volunteer tourism and Israeli civil-society activity, while its operational identity rests on small delegations, local partnerships, repeat visits, and practical service. Available reference material documents its founding and international programs but does not establish current financial scale, staffing, legal structure, headquarters, or a complete list of present leaders.

Heroes for Life was founded in 2013 by three former Duvdevan unit officers after they completed their military service and traveled through the Far East. The founders saw that large numbers of young Israelis were already visiting poorer countries as backpackers. Their initiative was to turn that movement into a volunteer resource capable of supporting children and communities while presenting Israel through direct civic engagement. The organization developed a delegation format based on short, intensive missions. Participants first volunteer in an Israeli youth village for three days before being considered for an overseas team. This requirement links the international program to service inside Israel and gives volunteers an initial experience of working with children and community institutions. Overseas missions generally last approximately two weeks and combine educational activities with practical renovation and improvement work. India became one of the organization's recurring destinations, with missions reported from 2014 onward in the Mumbai area. Volunteers taught English, mathematics, and music, supported dental-care activities, improved living facilities, and participated in agricultural and painting projects. The program also included interaction with India's Jewish community, particularly on weekends. The Danielle designation used for one of the teams commemorates Danielle Pomerantz, an IDF sergeant who died during the 2014 Gaza conflict; another account associates the Danielle team name with Danielle Sonnenfeld, a national-service volunteer who worked with children with cancer and died in a traffic accident. Brazil was another significant field of activity. Israeli backpackers worked with children in Rio de Janeiro communities, including Cantagalo and later Pavuna. Their activities included English and mathematics lessons and renovation of a community center. Members of Rio's Jewish community assisted with interpretation and local connections. One volunteer, Lior Tabib, joined in memory of his friend Captain Tal Nachman, who was killed during operations near the Gaza border in 2014. The organization expanded to Nepal in October 2017. That first mission lasted two weeks and combined teaching English, mathematics, music, and dental care with renovation work at a residential shelter near Kathmandu. Ethiopia followed in March 2017, with a delegation working near Gondar. Volunteers taught English, mathematics, dental health, and music, renovated a shelter, and worked with a local Ethiopian NGO and the Israeli organization Eden. South Africa was added in March 2018, with educational and humanitarian work for children, agricultural projects, painting and building improvements, and engagement with the South African Jewish community. Argentina missions began in 2015 in the San Fernando area of Buenos Aires. The recurring two-week program used teams of roughly 20 to 25 volunteers. Morning work concentrated on painting and restoration, while afternoon sessions covered English, mathematics, music, personal values, and dental care. The 2015 delegation built a dining room for local children. The Argentina team was called Oz in memory of Sergeant Oz Mendelovic, who died in the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge. Weekend activities were conducted with the Maccabi movement and young people from Buenos Aires' Jewish community. Reference material also describes planned or expanding activity in Guatemala and Mexico in September 2018. These programs were intended to provide children's education, dental or personal-hygiene instruction, music, and shelter renovation near Guatemala City and Mexico City. Across destinations, the organization emphasized continuity by returning to the same children and partner locations rather than treating each trip as an isolated event. The organization has been associated with Eliezer Shkedi, a former commander of the Israeli Air Force, as chair. Beyond the individuals identified in available reference material, public information does not provide a complete leadership roster or detailed financial and administrative history.

• 2018

  South Africa activity and further planned expansion

  [1]Heroes for Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  A South Africa delegation was reported in March, while Guatemala and Mexico were identified as destinations for planned September missions.

• 2017

  Expansion to Ethiopia and Nepal

  [1]Heroes for Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Delegations were reported in Ethiopia in March and Nepal in October, adding shelter renovation, children's lessons, and basic health-related activities to the organization's geographic footprint.

• 2015

  Argentina program launches

  [1]Heroes for Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  The first reported Heroes for Life mission to the San Fernando area of Buenos Aires took place, with education and renovation work continuing through recurring delegations.

• 2014

  Recurring India missions begin

  [1]Heroes for Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began recurring volunteer expeditions to communities in and around Mumbai, combining children's education, health activities, facility improvement, and Jewish-community exchange.

• 2013

  Organization founded

  [1]Heroes for Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Three former Duvdevan unit officers, including Gili Cohen, established Heroes for Life after identifying the potential of Israeli post-service travelers to undertake organized humanitarian work.

A service-oriented Israeli volunteer platform that channels post-military travel into structured humanitarian work, education, community renovation, and cultural exchange.

• Volunteer service · 2013

  Overseas humanitarian volunteer delegations

  Short-term, generally two-week missions in which Israeli post-service travelers work with local partners. Activities combine children's education, community renovation, health and dental instruction, cultural exchange, and support for shelters or community centers.

• Volunteer delegation

  Danielle team

  A named volunteer team associated with missions such as those in India. The name commemorates Danielle figures identified in organizational accounts, including Danielle Pomerantz and Danielle Sonnenfeld, and is connected with educational and community-service work.

• Volunteer delegation · 2015

  Oz team

  The Argentina delegation name used for work in the San Fernando area of Buenos Aires. Its program combines facility restoration with lessons in English, mathematics, music, personal values, and dental care.

1. 1Heroes for Lifeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Heroes for Life official websiteffl.org.il