Project details
The game of life
“During football practice I learn all sorts of things, like waiting patiently in line, behaving myself and restraining myself. I love putting on the uniform and helping the coach, I’m having fun. I’m thankful for the practices; I wish it’d never end”.
– Chen, 12-years-old student at the “Ilanot” Special Ed. School, Nahariya.
The ‘Game of life’ program is designed to fit the special needs of each specified focus group, ranging mental retardation, handicap, hearing and speaking impairment, autism, mental disorders to ADHD. The program runs more than a 100 groups of children with special needs. Most programs are run in cooperation with Israel’s National Insurance Institution, Ministry of Social Affairs and Services, and the Ministry of Health.
In a nutshell:
- All ages: children, adolescents and adults.
- Weekly professional soccer practices and social meetings.
Main learning goals include:
- Create a positive self-image.
- Learn to cope with one’s social stigma.
- Stimulate sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy.
- Develop social and communication skills.