Since October 7, Tambour, a leading Israeli company in paint and construction finishing products, has been advancing its long-term commitment to "Bringing Color Back to the Children of the South." This extensive project aims to restore and renovate public spaces for children and teenagers in towns and kibbutzim in Israel’s southern region. The initiative comes in response to the condition of buildings abandoned or damaged during the conflict in October, many of which had become unusable. Tambour has donated paint and construction supplies worth millions of shekels to refurbish dozens of these spaces, and engaged designers from its "Tambour Connect" community to reimagine each structure to meet its specific function and purpose.
As part of the initiative, dozens of buildings in communities like Kibbutz Gevulot, Ein Habesor, Mefalsim, Kibbutz Magen, Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, Kibbutz Sufa, Kibbutz Re’im, Kibbutz Or HaNer, Kibbutz Erez, Kibbutz Nir Am, Kibbutz Gevim, Netiv Ha'asara, Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, Be’eri, and the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council have already undergone renovations and are now fully back in service for children and teens. In other towns like Mivtahim, Sde Avraham, Kisufim, Kerem Shalom, Kfar Aza, Yakhini, Pri Gan, Ein Hashlosha, and Nirim, work is either ongoing or yet to begin.
In recent months, Tambour has allocated significant resources to ensure that children returning with their families to southern communities can also return to freshly restored and redesigned educational spaces. Designers and professionals have joined the initiative, paying close attention to every detail, including the psychological impact of colors and the feelings they evoke.
Micha Scharir, CEO of Tambour, shared: “Tambour is a deeply-rooted Israeli company. For almost 90 years, we’ve been woven into the fabric of this country, through times of celebration and crisis. When the conflict began, it was immediately clear that our role in the national effort would be to help restore the devastation. Over the past year, we’ve been part of various initiatives, from donating paint for awareness-raising projects to rebuilding structures, but this campaign to renew public spaces for the next generation—our children and teens—is our most meaningful endeavor. We’re working simultaneously in several communities, in full coordination with local representatives who outline specific building needs. Our managers and employees are also deeply invested in promoting this project, alongside the design community that has joined us in this critical mission. I am proud of the enduring dedication from all our partners, who have been working for months with devotion and perseverance. The children in southern Israel have had a tumultuous year, and we hope these revitalized, welcoming spaces will bring them joy and contribute, even slightly, to their recovery and return to a cherished routine.”
Liat Koren Litvinov, head of the Kibbutz Mefalsim community, added: “Returning home and starting a new school year required rebuilding and handling various aspects of the kibbutz, particularly in our educational system—the beating heart of our community. Our kindergartens and educational buildings needed major renovations, and we are grateful that Tambour stepped in to assist us and other southern communities, providing the paint and construction materials we needed and connecting us with skilled professionals. With support from the Organization of Interior Designers and Planners in Israel and Mefalsim residents Michal Siranu and Neta Deutsch, our partnership with Tambour has been invaluable. They were highly responsive to our needs, and together we created a renewed, innovative, and more welcoming learning environment. We are immensely grateful.”