Haifa is a city full of potential: the sea, the mountains, universities, rich culture, and a layered history. Yet behind this beautiful picture lies a complex reality: most young people complete their studies in Haifa and leave. Only a few stay to build careers, start families, and invest in the city’s development. It was from this understanding that the NGO Young People for Haifa was born under the leadership of City Council deputy Kirill Karetnik. We were founded out of a deep sense of responsibility for the city and a simple idea: if we don’t act to help young people stay, Haifa will lose the generation that drives it forward. Our goal is clear — to make Haifa a place where it is comfortable to live, work, and grow. Not just talking about potential, but implementing concrete projects on the ground.
Supporting youth begins in adolescence. That’s why we actively work with the city’s education system, promote inclusive dialogue, stand against racism, isolation, and violence in schools, and strengthen teenagers’ sense of personal safety. Young people cannot thrive in an environment that weakens them or forces them to stay silent. This is why we promote the values of respect, responsibility, and belonging — because a strong city starts with youth who feel confident and significant within it.
But education alone is not enough. Young people need real opportunities: jobs, a cultural environment, entrepreneurship, community, and infrastructure for growth. Based on this approach, we opened a public coworking space in the heart of Talpiot Market — a modern platform where entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers can grow within the city rather than leave it. This space brings together people, ideas, and local businesses — a place where initiatives become reality. Alongside the coworking space, we organize events and networking meetings, lectures, support clubs for new immigrants, volunteer communities, strengthen social initiatives, and create professional connections that foster a true sense of belonging. We believe Haifa’s future is built not only on infrastructure but also on strong, united communities.
During the “Iron Swords” war, thanks to thousands of volunteers, we demonstrated what true civic power looks like. We quickly organized equipment collection, mobilized volunteers, and assisted 70,000 soldiers and their families across the country. In that critical moment, it became clear how necessary Haifa is for a vibrant, organized, and responsible civic initiative — and how civic engagement can produce real change.
Young People for Haifa is not just an NGO — it is an urban movement. We work to reduce youth outflow in a city where roughly 25% of the population is elderly. We represent the interests of young people and parents before educational authorities and the Haifa municipality. By advocating for real structural changes in areas such as the economy, transportation, and urban development, we strive for a future in which young people do not ask, “Where is better?” but proudly say, “I live here.” Haifa cannot afford to age — it needs renewal, and renewal begins with youth, real opportunities, and a strong community acting together. Because Haifa needs its youth, and youth need Haifa.
