Last weekend (August 14-15), KKL-JNF hosted a group of children from the Kav Lachayim organization for children with special needs, at its Field and Forest Education Center in Nes Harim. For many of the children, it was their first time being out in nature with their friends since the onset of COVID-19. Activities were led by KKL-JNF guides, with the assistance of Kav Lachayim volunteers. The generous support of JNF Austria was what made this weekend extra special.
“One just needed to look into Noam’s eyes to understand exactly how he was feeling when he arrived at the site,” said
Ariel Buchris, a Kav Lachayim guide, who was accompanying Noam, a boy with special needs, on the weekend trip to Nes Harim in the hills west of Jerusalem. Noam was a part of a group of 13 boys and girls with special needs participating in the two-day event, each with their own personal madrich, or chaperone. “Noam was beaming,” Ariel recalled, “He loves to be out in nature with his friends, and this trip came after months of lockdown at home due to the Coronavirus.”
The weekend was organized by KKL-JNF's Education and Community Division, together with the Kav Lachayim social association for children with complex disabilities and rare syndromes. The campers and their guides were warmly welcomed by
Dudu Ashkenazi, KKL-JNF's Director of Training, Projects and Special Education. Ashkenazi, who is deeply committed to making a wide range of KKL-JNF services and facilities accessible to people with special needs, told the youngsters how delighted he was to host them here.
Later, while watching the group enjoy an outdoor activity led by two KKL-JNF counsellors, Ashkenazi said that he too noticed the intense happiness on the faces of the young campers as they wandered around the facility. “The thrill I get from seeing them so happy and carefree is what drives me forward each time. We put a lot of extra work into arranging this particular trip due to the coronavirus situation. It took us over a month to get the necessary authorization from the health authorities, because besides their usual problems, this group is also considered to be at high risk for COVID-19 infection. The road to get them here was long and complicated, but as we see, the effort was totally worth it. KKL-JNF places the utmost importance on providing services for the needy sectors of society, and we allocate much of our resources to achieve that. I must also mention the generous contribution we received from JNF Austria to hold the event. Without that dedicated assistance, we would not have been able to provide as much.”
Teenager
Efrat Ben Hamo, who uses a wheelchair, said that she was thrilled to be here. “I would not have missed this for anything”, she said, “During the two-month Corona lockdown and even afterwards, I was mainly at home and often alone. When I heard about this weekend getaway I made a big fuss until my mother agreed to let me go. I have a lot of friends at Kav Lachayim and I miss them a lot. I am so happy to be here. It is so beautiful.”
Kav Lachayim Jerusalem District Manager
Adi Bariach said that she tries to get the youngsters out on trips as much as possible. “We know that due to the level of care these children need, most families find it very difficult to get around with them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this difficulty was compounded many times over because of the restrictions. Parents were thrust into the full-time role of teacher and caregiver while at the same time trying to do their paid jobs from home. After a couple of months of lockdown, the kids and their families were climbing the walls from frustration. A trip like this is appreciated not only by the participants; it also provides a break and great relief for their parents and siblings.”
Bariach complimented the KKL-JNF youth counsellors, who she said were "absolutely fantastic. They quickly understood the needs of the group and knew exactly how to draw each and every one into the activities.” She also said that the KKL-JNF center in Nes Harim is at the top of Kav Lachayim's short-list of favorite destinations, “due to the fact that KKL-JNF has taken care to make the site wheelchair friendly, including the paved trails and well-equipped classrooms. The only mobility difficulties that remain are within the bungalows and sleeping lodges, where it is difficult to get around in a wheelchair. However,” she said with a huge smile, “I am happy to report that Dudu Ashkenazi told me that KKL-JNF is seeking a budget to make the sleeping quarters totally accessible for visitors with physical limitations. Once that is done, the KKL-JNF Nes Harim Field and Forest Education Center will be even more amazing for us.”
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