As One – Kiryat Gat and Chicago for Children and Youth with Disabilities
Bnei Akiva
Field: Disabilities and Health
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Requested amount: $30,000
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29% of total budget
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Location: kiryat Gat
// About the Organization
Bnei Akiva is one of Israel’s largest youth movements, operating ~430 branches nationwide. For over 90 years it has led informal education with tailored programs for diverse communities and needs.
// Project Description
The Shivtei Yuval project, established in 1997 integrates children with special needs into the Bnei Akiva youth movement. Every child has a personal counselor and participates in weekly activities, camps and trips. The project is subsidized, accessible and provides the assistance necessary to enable the full participation of the children in all educational-social activities without barriers. Children develop self-confidence and social skills while counselors internalize qualities such as inclusion, giving and awareness.
// Project Goals
The three main goals of the project are to develop life skills among children and youth with disabilities; to enhance the wellbeing of young people with disabilities through fun and enjoyable activities within the framework of a youth movement, and to develop inclusion skills among non-disabled youth.
// Target Population
Children and youth with special needs, religious and non-religious, from Kiryat Gat, as well as youth who want to volunteer and serve as personal counselors for the participants.
// Outcomes
Expected outcomes in the short term: 60 participants with special needs will engage in weekly activities along with 60 trained personal counselors, throughout the program that is made up of 48 weekly sessions, 12 life skills workshops, and 2-3 accessibly adapted camps / trips. In the long-term outcomes would be a measurable improvement in social skills, self-confidence and empowerment of the participants.
// Project Timeline
July-Aug 2026: Recruiting participants and commencing counselor training. Sep 26-Apr 27: 48 weekly sessions, 12 life skills seminars, camps/trips. Jan 2027: Mid-term evaluation. May-June 2027: End of Year Event, final evaluation, and plans for next year.
// Budget Sustainability
Bnei Akiva has a strong presence in Kiryat Gat, and will showcase the project's enhanced impact made possible by the Partnership funding, to the Municipality and other stakeholders to sustain the expanding program.
If the Partnership won’t fund the full requested sum, Bnei Akiva will continue to implement the project, but in a limited scope in accordance with Bnei Akiva's current limited budget.
// Project establishment status
The project exists. Bnei Akiva intends to expand the Shivtei Yuval project and its impact.