Jonny, the Amakim Regional Manager, met with the kids and shared his aliya story with them. The mayor, Alon Davidi, host
TheEqualizer February 2017
MAGAZINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Stories from the Field 4 Volunteer of the Week 6 Nice to Meet
PICTURE OF THE MONTH
The picture of the month comes to us from the Furdeis town on the Mediterranean Sea, where the first tournament of the year for the Carmel Region took place together with schools from Haifa, Daliat el Carmel, Kiryat Haim, Jasr a-Zarka, Yokneam, and, of course, Furdeis. The picture was featured on our Instagram and Facebook.
We Thank Our Partners
Stories from the Field In advance of the first tournament of the year for 7th-8th graders, which took place in Yerucham in the south, one team that has been preparing for the tournament is from Sderot, comprised of participants who all participated in the program in their elementary schools.
Despite the very stormy weather, the Darchei Noam School's team from Katzrin continues to hold practices to prepare for the next tournament in the Upper Galilee Region.
In preparation of our Central Region's opening tournament, none other than Gil, the principal of the Kfir School from Hatikva neighborhood in Tel Aviv, came to the school's football practice to emphasize the importance of fair play and not violence.
In picture: Opening Tournament Invitation
more Stories from the Field, follow us on Facebook Thursday, April 14th, 2016For in Afula
The Equalizer - Education on Top
Stories from the Field At the study center in the Eshkol School's team in Acco, Yana ran an especially interesting activity where each kid gets a piece of paper cut out in the shape of a fish and writes on it the good things his teammates said about him. The activity teaches that we all may be similar (like fish) but each person
This gorgeous shot comes from the Old City of Jerusalem. In the Old City's Muslim Quarter is the El-Omariya School's team - one of the most veteran and exciting teams of our program.
The first tournament of the year for our Western Negev Region took place, in partnership with teams from Beersheva, Rahat, Ashdod and, of course, Sderot. There were an additional 350 players from the Bekeffprogram, a Jewish youth movement from Argentina finishing their counselor-training program in Israel. Jonny, the Amakim Regional Manager, met with the kids and shared his aliya story with them. The mayor, Alon Davidi, hosting the tournament, welcomed all the participants and thanked them for being there. The mayor and the In picture: Argentinian kids also played with The Equalizer students on the pitch! Opening Tournament Invitation
more Stories from the Field, follow us on Facebook Thursday, April 14th, 2016For in Afula
The Equalizer - Education on Top
Volunteer of the Week Mor Shimoni. Tutors in the study center at the Raziel School's team in Netanya. Mor, a student at Wingate Institute, told us: "When I met the team for the first time, I already saw a group of kids with a common goal, where each kids shows up as an individual, but also acts as a part of the team. The study center is another way to impart values in the children and mold their personalities, alongside the football which unites them and teaches them cooperation and perseverance." The Sharon Regional Manager, Omer Kleiman, explained his choosing Mor: "More comes from a sport background and it is apparent that she understands the importance of sport and education and how much it can contribute as a tool in developing children."
In picture:
Kanar Ibrahim. Tutors in the Aleph Elementary School’s study center in Maghar in our Heart of the Galilee Region. She is studying chemistry and biology high school education at the Arab Academic College for Education and is volunteering in her home town. Her volunteer work is in partnership with The Israeli National Lottery. Kanar shared her challenges in the study center: “Each kid comes from a different culture (Christian/Muslim) and different background (in terms of family and socioeconomic level), and you need to relate to each child differently.” Kanar also shared with us: “Each time we do an activity, the children ask for more and more: “Can we do an activity today?” “What’s the topic going to be next time?” When I get such reactions from the kids I understand that I am doing something huge.” This program is in partnership with the Maghar City Council, City Without Violence and UJIA.
Volunteer of the Week Noa, Avia, Yonatan, and Oz. Volunteer with our 7th-8th grade team, which is run through the ORT Sapir School, as part of our middle school Southern Region program which launched this year. The incredible staff - coordinated by Avinoam (from Atid Bamidbar NGO) and Eliezer (a teacher at the school) - arrive weekly from the Negev Mechina in Sde Boker. This staff does great work with the students; each week they surprise the kids with a new, fun, value-based activity. In addition, the tutors accompanied the team to their first tournament of the year, which took place in Yerucham, cheering them all the way to a very respectable 3rd place. Perhaps more importantly, the team was recognized with an award for its fair play.
In picture: Opening Tournament Invitation Thursday, April 14th, 2016 in Afula
Lemas Nemr. Student in her 3rd year at the Tel Hai College, majoring in Education, and comes straight from Ein Kanya in the Golan Heights. As part of her field work, Lemas runs the study center for the Majdal Shames team in our Upper Galilee Region. She told us that already in the first meeting, she had difficulty with the students, but she managed to overcome the challenge. She said "As time went on, I felt my self-confidence rise. My speaking became clearer. My posture was more stable and I felt like I know what I am doing. For me, this success was very meaningful and it has helped me to open up." She adds, "I feel that the organization suits my needs, both in terms of what it provides me in order for me to run the study center and in terms of the management - the manager is in the area when the activity begins and sometimes checks if I need something and how I'm feeling."
Nice to Meet Em Hamoshavot, Petach Tikva
This team is from the Central Region, and not just the center, but the team that won the opening tournament of the year - Em Hamoshavot. This team is coached by Kfir and the study center is run in partnership with Hapoel Petach Tikva Fans Organization. The community center director, Evelyn, told us: "The Equalizer program combines the possibility to practice football in teams and also to enjoy academic assistance - it provides both a social and academic response. This program is terrific in that it helps give a holistic response with value-based content for youth in the after-school hours." This wonderful team is in partnership with the youth department of the Petach Tikva Municipality.
Zemer
The Zemer team has 6th graders from 3 Arab villages in the Zemer local council. The team is in its 2nd year with The Equalizer. The study center's tutor is Lana, who is volunteering in partnership with Sha'arei Mishpat College. Ibrahim, the coach, is very pleased that there are programs like this which reach children in the periphery. Omer, the Sharon Regional Manager, chose this team because their progress and improvement are apparent both on and off the pitch.
Nice to Meet Hazon Ovadiah, Beersheva
The Hazon Ovadiah School in Beersheva has one of the most veteran teams in the region, it’s been running for 4 years. The school is in Shchuna Gimmel, the oldest neighborhood in Beersheva and the school’s population is diverse with immigrants and old-timers. The team has a terrific staff: Asher Hefer is the coach and Omer and Maayan are the tutors in the study center. Shai Rosilio, the Western Negev Regional Manager, said, “I chose this team not because it’s usually the best team on the pitch, but because the team won the fairplay trophy after playing extremely honorable throughout the entire tournament in Sderot.” The coach told us, “I am so pleased that the team played fairly throughout the tournament. For me, this is the most important thing.”
Sultan al-Atrash, Horfeish
This week, we go north to the Western Galilee where we meet the team from the Sultan al-Atrash Elementary Experiential School in the Druze village, Horfeish. Guy Slama, the regional manager, said, "I chose to highlight this team - which started this November - because it works really well with the school. The children love the football practices, run by Fu'ad Hiraldin, a professional footballer from the Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshicha team. The study center is run by devoted volunteers - Hihi, Yasmin, Diana and Rania. It is fun to see the improvement in the kids' order, discipline and enjoyment!" The school principal, Imad Hassin, told us: "This is the first time The Equalizer program is in our school. The program is very experiential and meaningful. It instills many values in the students. In addition, the students receive individual support from college volunteers on an academic, educational and emotional level." This team, along with all the teams in the region, is run in partnership with UJIA.
