For these children, the meaning of “routine” is very different from what most of us know. Financial hardship forces many parents to work around the clock, leaving their children for long periods without a consistent parental presence. During their earliest years, many are placed in makeshift childcare settings — often the only option their families can afford — where overcrowding, limited freedom of movement, and a lack of developmental stimulation can seriously affect their development.

The challenges do not end in early childhood. By the time they enter the Israeli education system, many children are already coping with significant language and learning gaps. The vast majority are placed in schools and preschools in South Tel Aviv attended almost exclusively by children of asylum seekers, with little or no presence of Israeli children their own age — a separation that further deepens their sense of social isolation.

After school, they spend time in parks, on the streets, and on public transportation. In these public spaces, they frequently encounter alienation, hostility, and at times outright racism. Most of these children were born in Israel, and this is the only home they have ever known. Yet they learn very early that they are growing up on the margins of Israeli society.

Within their families, the persistent threat of deportation, the denial of legal status, and the lack of a social safety net create constant strain. This atmosphere has a profound emotional impact on the children and intensifies their sense of instability and displacement. They are forced to navigate childhood and adolescence without the stability and peace of mind they need to learn, build healthy relationships, and dream of a secure future.