Lend a Hand to Heal - Sderot Youth Summer Knowledge Camp @ The Hebrew University

Youth under fire get unique experience in Jerusalem

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Summer camp is a time for young people to play and explore freely, shed their worries, and just enjoy life.  Any youth would jump  at these opportunities – just imagine how welcome this would be for the Israeli children of Sderot, who for eight years have faced a barrage of Qassam rockets fired from neighbouring Gaza.

This summer, 200 Sderot teenagers, ages 13-18, will receive a meaningful summer camp experience thanks to the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University and the Committee for a Secure Sderot. The two organizations have joined to create “Lend a Hand to Heal” – Sderot Youth Summer Knowledge Camp @ the Hebrew University.  Starting August 1st, the teens will receive a stimulating week-long program at the Joseph Meyerhoff Youth Center for Advanced Studies, Edmond J. Safra campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The Sderot youth will be introduced to educational and scientific programs at the university, in fields such as astronomy, chemistry, physiology and computers.  Given the toll taken by the attacks on Sderot, the teens will take part in workshops on post-traumatic stress disorder.  Their program also includes sports activities and learning more about Jerusalem through tours around the city and its surroundings.

“We have to expose these teens to both educational and fun opportunities, and away from the daily stress and challenges imposed by thier unfortunate reality,” says Rami Kleinmann, Executive Director of the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University. Alon Davidi, Director of the Committee for a Secure Sderot, says the youth of the city are “heroes” who live on the “front lines” of Israel: “We want to give each child one week so they can go to sleep not worried about running to a shelter, one week of freedom to do what they want without fear.”

The youth participants comprise a diverse group, girls and boys from secular and religious communities, immigrants as well as native Israeli’s. Besides just offering a good time, one goal of the summer program is to create a strong connection with the university, says Kleinman: “We hope it will encourage these teenagers to go on to higher education.”

Leadership seminars will also be part of the program, with the aim of creating a new generation of leadership in Sderot. “Our success as a nation and our motivation,” says Kleinmann, “comes from the strength of the children of Sderot.”

Supporters can participate in the “Lend a Hand to Heal” Sderot Youth Summer Knowledge Camp @ the Hebrew University program, and help send Sderot youth for a much need respite, by making a donation today:

Sderot Kids Speak in Documentary on YouTube:

Click here to read an excellent article in ShalomLife called "Fundraiser to Send Sderot Children To Summer Camp" - all about this campaign, and specifically a special fundraising evening recently held in Toronto.