January 27, 2008 / 20 Shevat 5768

The Second Lebanon War ended 16 months ago. But Israeli citizens living in the North and the Gaza perimeter communities remain vulnerable.

The UJC's Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC), supported by the Jewish Federations of North America, raised an incredible $360 million in pledges for war-time civilian needs and rehabilitation of traumatized regions in northern and southern Israel.

To date, one of the most far-reaching programs made possible through IEC funds is Afternoon Enrichment Activities. The establishment of this program was based on the belief by members of the IEC Work Group "that the best strategy for preventing and combating trauma may be providing younger kids a structured and nurturing environment after the school day ends."

The IEC invested $11 million in this two-year program which is implemented by the Jewish Agency for Israel. The human return on this investment has surpassed expectations. Some 60,000 school-age children in 35 local municipalities are participating in after-school clubs and activities. The impact of these activities goes beyond enrichment. Through music, sport, art, nature and computer learning, youngsters are dealing with their post-traumatic distress and easing back into normal life.

"After the war my 11-year-old son was afraid to leave the house. He continued bed-wetting for months," says one mother who asked to remain anonymous. "The music club drew him away from his worries. I see such a change in him."

For many parents who cannot afford the heavy price tag of afternoon activities, yet work full days while their children finish school at 1:00 p.m., this program has positively and significantly impacted their lives.

Gabi Bar-On at a nature activity.

“What truly helped the children this year were the enrichment activities and clubs provided by the Jewish Agency," says Marcell Bar-On, mother of four from Kibbutz Bar-Am, located next to the volatile Gaza border.

Toni Young of Delaware, who chairs the UJC’s Global Operations Group, joined an IEC Work Group mission to Israel and relates the following story: "In a video taken last summer, an adorable young girl looks shocked and panic-stricken as she witnesses a Katyusha missile falling just yards away from her. Moments after seeing the video, I was partnered with this young girl in an (Afternoon Enrichment) activity… She was shy and spoke quietly, but she smiled, and was able to participate fully in the soccer game."

"Our programs have touched nearly every family in the North," says Young.

Michael Fisher, UJC Israel IEC field manager, has been evaluating the program since its inception. He has found that in addition to the educational advantages it provides, the program is a community capacity building opportunity. In December 2007, Fisher reported that the Jewish Agency's dynamic young regional coordinators for this program developed strong working relationships with schools, local municipalities and key figures in local program implementation. They have become a resource for the schools and communities they are working in, and this has accelerated the success of the program.

"This year Jewish Agency staff engaged the local municipalities in a dialogue as to the goals and the implementation of the program," writes Fisher. "As a result of this dialogue the program was amended and now addresses 100% of all of the elementary school children in the 35 local municipalities."

The extensive enrichment program is implemented in cooperation with the CRB Foundation, Hapoel Keter Tel Aviv, the Tapuach non-profit association for advancing technology learning among youth, and the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).

Fisher succinctly concludes: "It seems that the Jewish Agency has made great strides in developing the program and taking it to the next level and they have made significant inroads in creating a sense of ownership within the school and the local municipalities over the program."