MAGAZINE

TheEqualizer July 2016

MAGAZINE

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2. Stories from the Field – Special End-of-Year Meetings 4. Volunteer of the Week

PICTURE OF THE MONTH

An emotional picture from the final tournament of the Sharon region, which took place in Netanya. A player from the El-Omriya School in Tira helping a player from the Sharet School in Pardes Chana after falling down. Photographer: Amir (Guri) Be'er.

Thank you to our partners:

For a wonderful year and full of experiences!

Stories from the Field The Tali School's team from East Pisgat Ze'ev in Jerusalem had an end-of-year meeting. The meeting included a final football practice with the coach, Adir. He distributed certificates to the kids, and they all had some light refreshments. Adir and the children summarized the past year and said that they really enjoyed the year and advanced in many areas.

There was a special end-of-the-year event for the teams which run in partnership with Ir Hapo'alim NGO. The teams were from schools in Kiryat Haim and Haifa with kids from 4th-8th grade. Beyond the quality time in the pool and dinner (barbeque!), Sammy (the devoted coach) and the rest of the staff organized a ceremony acknowledging the outstanding students and handed out certificates to ~60 boys and girls who participated in the wonderful program this year.

Amit - who has been coaching the Geulim School's team from Jerusalem for the last three years - took his team bowling to celebrate the end of the year. The players ate pizza, played on arcade machines, and, of course, bowled. What a nice initiative! Way to go to Amit and his team! In

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Stories from the Field The end-of-the-year meeting of the Shazar school's team from Acco took place. In addition to the team's coach, Lior, another special guest was there - Elior Seiderre, a player on Hapo'el Acco's team which is in Israel's 2nd League. Seiderre told the boys and girls: "I wanted to congratulate you for making it to the finishing line of the year. I believe in you and know you will go far, if you just believe, be dedicated, and work hard." Seiderre and Lior gave the kids individual medals, which ended the year beautifully - especially for them. There was an especially exciting and surprising end-of-year event at the Orion School in Beersheva - a final tournament but this time organized by the kids themselves! A few weeks earlier, during a session in the study center, the children raised the idea of organizing a school tournament for 4th-6th graders. Here's how it happened: with the help of the incredible staff, the team's players ran around the school during the last 2 weeks of the school year, signing up teams, dividing into groups, gathering necessary equipment, and more. The tournament took place like every other tournament of The Equalizer program: an opening ceremony with greetings from the school principal, ensuring hand-shaking at the start and end of the games, and a wonderful sportsmanship atmosphere.

In the Bedouin town of Zarzir, the Mazarib School's team met together with the region's manager, Jonathan, and partner representatives - the Volunteer Association’s Arab Division and the Hannaton Mechina. Bishra, the principal, led the discussion. She expressed how satisfied she has been to have the program in her school for the first time this year and discussed ways to improve the program for next year. All involved are anxiously awaiting for the activities to resume in the school. In pic-

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Volunteer of the Week Hend Odi. A volunteer as a tutor at the El Mostkabal School in Jaljulia. Hend is in her 3rd year studying Early Childhood Education at the Beit Berl Academic College. She manages the study center's activities, which makes her feel both meaningful and responsible. She shared: "I really love The Equalizer program because it is experiential for the kids. Through the team activities, we work on life skills, problem-solving and decision-making strategies with the help of creative and intellectual flexibility." She adds: "I teach the kids the meaning of accepting the other through discussions and videos about children with special needs." Hend wants to thank the school and Equalizer staff; she loves this work.

Roni, Yaheli, and Guy. This tim e, w e w ill m eet the entire staff: tutors at the Orion School's study center in Beersheva. These three volunteers are scholarship recipients of Perach, the university tutoring program. The year hasn't been easy - it was the first year the program ran in the school - but they overcame the hurdles beautifully due to their devotion and endless love for the children. They fostered exceptional relationships with each kid, which included individual conversations with each one throughout the year, of course alongside academic assistance, enrichment activities, and accompanying the team to tournaments and cheering them on. In lieu of their incredible experience, the staff was chosen to present their activities at the end of the year evening in the south. They proudly shared that as an end of year activity, the kids decided to arrange a football tournament at school, which will take place during the last week of school.

Volunteer of the Week Ariel Shrier. A tutor in our study center at the Bernadette School in Jerusalem's Neve Ya'akov neighborhood. Ariel is studying economics and management at the Open University, and has been volunteering with this team for two years through the Perach program. Beyond his incredible contribution to the study center, Ariel is at the team's football practices and accompanies the team to the tournaments, where he helps the regional management as a judge during the games. All of the above demonstrates Ariel's willingness to help and contribute, along with his tremendous love for The Equalizer.

Ameneh Amash. A tutor in the study center in Kfar Eilabun's elementary school. She is studying education in the center for learning disabilities at the Tel Hai Academic College, and chose to do her field work with The Equalizer program. Ameneh works wonders with the students who quickly bonded with her, despite certain challenges at the start of the year. Ameneh told us: "The Equalizer is an open door to all learning methods. I have gained a tremendous amount from the program - to always be optimistic, never give up upon encountering difficulties at the start, be strong, and get through the difficulty with great success. Recently, I realized how successful I have been with the children." She added: "I am very pleased I chose this program."

Nice to Meet Dkalim School, Dimona

This week we will head south to the incredible town of Dimona, where we will meet the Dkalim school's team, which is in its first year of the program in the East Negev region The group is lead by Eidan, a local, who recently was discharged from his IDF service. Eidan is doing incredible work with the young players and visits them in the morning at school to give each one personal attention. He is adored for this, not just by the kids, but by the parents as well. The study center is run by Eden Tourgeman and Eden Cohen, both are scholarship recipients of the Perach organization, which provides scholastic assistance to children. They run enrichment activities on a variety of topics.

Alsalam (Peace) School, Sakhnin

One of four teams in the northern part of the city. The team, which took 1st place at the Lev Hagalil region's opening tournament, is in its first year with the City without Violence program and UJIA. The team's study center is run in partnership with the education academy of the Bnei Sakhnin team, and students of the city volunteer in the program. Rashid is both the coordinator of the team and the gym teacher at the school - and, we will take this opportunity to wish him a congratulations on his recent engagement!

Nice to Meet Ort Middle School, Shlomi

This team began in the middle of the year, in partnership with UJIA. The coach is no other than the western Galilee region's manager, Amir Be'er. He shared with us: "I entered the school for the first time (wearing The Equalizer t-shirt, of course) and immediately all of the children jumped all over me and excitedly asked 'The Equalizer? We are getting The Equalizer program?!' This level of enthusiasm continued in the football practices, and even heightened in the monthly tournaments. At each practice, the question "When is the next tournament?" is always asked. It's important to point out that the team is only comprised of 7th graders in order to have continuity next year together with those in 6th grade, finishing the program in the Ben Zvi and Rav Maimon schools.

Ohel Meir, Afula

The team only launched at the start of the year, through a city-wide program, and now looks like it's been running forever. The school staff are very tied to the program. The school's sport teacher, Sigi, coordinates the team's activities and provides extra-enrichment for the study center. Alongside of her, Eliaz, a student at the Emek Yizra'el College, is the study center tutor. Both make a terrific team and are responsible for the tremendous satisfaction the school has of the program. The school is especially thrilled with the behavioral and academic improvement of the young students.