After-school Activities for Refugee Children

Once a week, eight girls and boys from a kindergarten for refugees, situated in South Tel Aviv, wait excitedly for the car to take them to their Hand-to-Hand Combat class with instructor David. For them, this is a dream come true. They return from the class happy and proud.

For these delightful children, who face a daily struggle with oppression and financial hardship, this is an experience which builds their confidence and self esteem and strengthens their ability to cope with the difficulties of their daily life.

As we all know, when children (and adults) are angry and frustrated, they lose control. What the Hand-to-Hand Combat class gives these children is not expertise in combat (as the name might suggest), but it strengthens the connection between mind and body giving them self-discipline and self-control. This harmony between body and soul encourages a positive self-identity and self-confidence, which is so lacking in refugee children.

 We can see with this first group, that the children are more tolerant and loving to themselves and those around them.

We volunteers at the Elifelet Charity (http://www.blessingdaycare.org/en/), place great importance on developing enrichment programmes and after-school activities for these refugee children, who have a daily battle to survive, as do their families and the refugee community as a whole.

The donations of generous benefactors made it possible for us to send eight girls and boys to the Hand-to-Hand Combat class. These eight children have something to look forward to all week. For just one hour a week they are lucky enough to leave their overcrowded and oppressive kindergartens to enjoy an enriching and confidence-building experience.

Help us to fulfill the dreams of more refugee children.

100 NIS will give pleasure and confidence to one child for one month.

 All help and donations will be most gratefully received.