The house was quickly filled with homeless youth, and youth at risk and in immediate danger. Mariuma realized that her home was the only solution for these teens and she began improvising accommodation for them, thus began her work with at-risk youth in Tel Aviv.

A girl who stayed at the home at the time said, “I feel really Shanti here.” When Mariuma asked her about the meaning of the word “Shanti,” the girl replied, “Love and tranquility” in Sanskrit. One of the boys in the house took black spray paint and wrote on the wall, “Welcome to Shanti House.”

The children chose the name “Shanti House” and it became well known among the youngsters who needed help.

Since then, Shanti House helped tens of thousands of youth at risk and in immediate danger.

These youngsters staying at Shanti House were forced to leave their home due to physical, sexual, verbal abuse, orphanhood, abandonment, etc., or teens who were ejected from formal institutional care settings, new immigrants and lone soldiers, that find themselves homeless, at risk and in danger.

Shanti House accepts youth from all over the country, from all sectors, from all population strata regardless of religion, race, sex or gender.

The Shanti houses are the last chance they will ever have for a warm and loving home, before descending into life on the streets.

In the construction of the houses Mariuma put emphasis on its interior and exterior design. From her perception youth who come to Shanti house, those who lived in alienated places and went through difficult experiences, deserve a warm and aesthetic home full of optimism and attention. The aesthetic look of the house has a direct impact on these teenagers readiness to choose life and their wish to become part of Shanti house. Thus, the connection between the aesthetics of the place and the experience it creates is immediate and has a huge impact over time on their decision and determination to choose life and save themselves.

The Shanti House children take care of the cleanliness of the houses as part of the respect and appreciation for the place in which they chose to live.

Shanti House Tel Aviv

The permanent home in Tel Aviv was established thanks to a generous donation from Mrs. Marian and Mr. Doron Livnat who chose to commemorate the name of the late Mr. Yitzhak Livnat on this building, and thanks to the allocation of land from the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality headed by Mr. Ron Huldai.

In February 2018, the new Shanti House was inaugurated in the presence of Israel’s former President Mr. Reuven Rivlin, Minister of Welfare and Social Services Mr. Haim Katz, Israel’s new President Isaac Hertzog (former Chairman of the Jewish Agency),   Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Mr. Ron Huldai, Livnat family, dear souls who helped Shanti House continue its existence, staff and our heroes – the children of Shanti House.

The new Shanti House, is located next to the Clock Square in Jaffa, overlooks the sea and is colorfully and aesthetically designed providing youth with a warm, and respectful welcome and creating a family atmosphere.