The SHEKEL Bat Yam Boccia team wins Israel's national Boccia cup!
In the national Boccia championships, (an accessible ball game adapted to the needs of people with wide-ranging disabilities), the SHEKEL Bat Yam team defeated a total of seven teams from all over Israel, returning home with the national cup. Congrats to the phenomenal Bat Yam team and their incredible coach Shlomi Drami!!
SHEKEL meets the loving heart of Israel’s kibbutzim and rural villages.
Kibbutz Yavneh’s dining hall was transformed into a beating heart of discussion and action for some 200 representatives of Israel’s kibbutzim and moshavim, who came from all over the country to learn of options for creating inclusion and permanent homes for people with disabilities, within Israel’s kibbutzim and rural villages.
Knesset Chairman, Yuli Edelstein, was visibly moved as he presented letters of appointment for permanent employment, to seven young people with disabilities who have worked in the Knesset for two years, six of whom are part of SHEKEL’s “employment support” program.
SHEKEL's innovative new day center, which opened in 2018, is dramatically changing the lives of 46 participants who are aging or who have low-functioning disabilities.
“Something new is starting for me right now”
With these words, Eden Hartel officially launched a moving housewarming celebration for the two new ‘Living in the Community’ SHEKEL apartments recently opened in Shoham. Like many young Israelis, Eden now enjoys living his own life in an apartment he shares with three other friends. Eden and his flat-mates work during the day, enjoying full social lives and pursuing individual interests and hobbies after work.
“Something new is starting for me right now”
With these words, Eden Hartel officially launched a moving housewarming celebration for the two new ‘Living in the Community’ SHEKEL apartments recently opened in Shoham. Like many young Israelis, Eden now enjoys living his own life in an apartment he shares with three other friends. Eden and his flat-mates work during the day, enjoying full social lives and pursuing individual interests and hobbies after work.
The SHEKEL apartments, which were opened in partnership with the Shoham local council, are intended to give adults with developmental disabilities the chance to live full meaningful lives with independence, as vital members of the general community.
Expressing his thanks to SHEKEL CEO, Clara Feldman, for the wonderful joint initiative, Shoham mayor, Gil Livneh, spoke of Shoham’s deep desire to incorporate and assist the new apartment residents as an integral part of the town’s life and community.
Feldman emphasized the apartments' significance in “providing opportunity for people with disabilities to build real lives for themselves among the mainstream community”. She expressed her deep appreciation for the extraordinary partnership and assistance on the part of Shoham’s local council, community and parents, and likewise for the support of Israel’s ministry of labor and welfare.
Housing supervisor for the ministry of labor and welfare, Boaz Azoulay described SHEKEL as a “groundbreaking organization in the field of housing in the general community, the results of which can be felt in the wonderful atmosphere in the apartments”.
Ron, one of the new residents, summed up his personal experience: “It’s fun here in the apartment and it’s so nice to live with friends”.
The two new apartments, one for men and one for women, are part of SHEKEL’s diverse Living in the Community program which numbers 140 apartments, providing housing solutions in the general community throughout the country, for people with all types of disabilities.
‘Bet Hiba Zion’, a unique housing project that is the first of its type in Israel for adults on the autism spectrum, recently opened in Ramat Gan. A total of 19 residents between the ages of 30 – 45, now live in the multi-story apartment building. Each resident has their own fully equipped flat and each goes to work during the day while also benefitting from personalized daily programs supervised by counselors.
That’s how Yehuda Oren of moshav Masuoth Yitzhak, defined the newfound daily reality of six young women with disabilities who recently launched their adult lives as part of the welcoming moshav. Members of Masuoth Yitzhak warmly embraced the idea of creating a supportive SHEKEL apartment that would allow the women to live full lives as an inseparable part of the moshav community.
The applause of over 100 people who turned out to watch "I Will Have It" a play acted by SHEKEL actors at Moshav Rinatya, resounded with support and pride. The 14 actors from SHEKEL's vocational rehabilitation center in Hevel Modiin, took part in a theatre course made possible thanks to a great partnership between the "Hishtachvaya" community theater, SHEKEL, the Shalem Fund, and the Hevel Modiin Regional Council. According to Irit Kossover, director and group instructor: "The play was a moving journey. The actors experienced no small amount of difficulty and frustration on the way but in the end they overcame the obstacles in their path and succeeded. It was a wonderful feeling which empowered them."
The kind of fun day out that many of us take for granted, marked a groundbreaking milestone for 36 people with intellectual and physical disabilities from SHEKEL’s day center in Petach Tikva. Sailing from the Herzliya Marina with their parents and SHEKEL staff, they enjoyed an exhilarating boat trip at sea for the very first time in their lives.
Two Guys make history for second time!!
Guy Sagiv and Guy Niv first made history as part of the historic "Centennial Tour" bike ride, organized by SHEKEL and Kids Kicking Cancer, to mark 100 years since the ANZAC victory at the Battle of Be'er Sheva!
Today they are doing it again – this time as the first Israelis in history to take part in the prestigious Giro d'Italia world cycling competition.
At the Centennial Tour bike ride they were interviewed by Yoram Kahn from SHEKEL's T.V. and video making program.
Here's what they had to say
Guys! From all of us here at SHEKEL – WE’RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!!