July 26, 2007

Sderot children

Yedioth Ahronoth, Ynet and the Jewish Agency offer summer camps to thousands of Sderot children away from the range of the Qassams

by Danny Adino Ababa

A joint project of the Jewish Agency for Israel and Yedioth Ahronoth focuses on sending thousands of children from Sderot and the neighboring communities to summer camps away from the range of the Qassams.

Thousands of students, grades one through11, are scheduled to enjoy a wide variety of activities. The camps are sponsored by the United Jewish Communities (UJC) and the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Canada.

At the camps, the children will also meet with professionals who specialize in the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tamir Abeqasis (14) from Sderot was wounded two years ago by a Qassam's shrapnel. He received a very special gift Monday when he and his friends flew over the Negev: "The situation in Sderot is very difficult," he said, "it's impossible to live like that. I am afraid to leave the house and when I walk in the streets I keep looking for hiding places."