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"The children were taken out from their genuine families because of dysfunction of parents, child neglect, abuse, mental illness, and more. They are taken out either by court warrant, or by parents consent. It is done in order to improve the life and future of these children.
"Last week I met Prof. Dan Shnit,a jurist and sociologist, the chairman of a voluntary Organisation: “YELADIM“ ( Hebrew for children ) which was founded in order to help the children develop and overcome the traumatic situation they had experienced and to enrich their lives. The aim is to bring them to the same level of an ordinary child in the community.
"It started about 20 years ago when two women decided to found an organisation of volunteers, with the aim to help those children to overcome emotional and educational gaps.
"The Organisation is totally based on volunteering, and its economical resources depend on donations.
"Educational gaps: Each year, 750 children, starting from the first to fourth grade are getting intensive lessons in arithmetic, reading, writing and general learning qualifications.
"Emotional gaps : Art treatment in order to encourage the children to express their inner world. Another purpose is acquainting them with theatre, the plastic arts, music and dancing in order to enrich their mental world. Each year the group distribute scholarships in the arts to gifted children from the group homes.
"Sport activities are important as well.
"Activities are done to enhance the child's connection with his family, like summer camps with parents participation.
"There are 15 homes of that kind in the Arab sector.
"The Follow up show good results. Children are prepared to continue higher education, and are prepared to go and serve in the army at the right age.
"I was very impressed by the information I received from Prof. Shnit. I find it a very blessed human granting, so similar to our Soroptimist aims, and wanted to share it with you.
"Best Wishes to all of you
Pnina
April 2006
