Child sponsorship update from Migdal Haemek, Israel

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Migdal Haemek, Israel from Winter 2008

The year 2008 was blessed with various activities throughout the year. The children in the village celebrated each of our religious and national holidays with appropriate parties and celebrations.

During the Jewish Passover & summer holiday school break, the younger children took part in a number of day trips and hikes, and the older children had a 3 day trip to the southern part of Israel - the desert part of Israel, the Negev.

The traditional Jewish Bar Mitzva's and Bat Mitzva's were celebrated (girls age 12 yrs, boys age 13 yrs) individually - a party for each child. Yearlong educational/social challenges were given to the children. A large party was held in May for all of them with their families, friends and the entire village.

In the last week of June, SOS day was celebrated during which we said goodbye to our 3 graduates (3 boys) who we saw off to life after the village. A moving performance was given by the village choir singing Israeli folk songs with 2 of our older girls as soloists; a movie clip prepared by the youth was screened; little ceramic potted plants (prepared by the children) were handed out to the hosting families to thank them for their year round support.

A special party was held to recognise the work of our post highschool volunteers and for the families that host our children throughout the year during religious holidays and vacations, when families are together.

Children's activities

In January, we had a 2 days visit to the village by special guests. All the village's employees had lunch with the visitors and the children told them about their lives, performed and sang songs.

Our village grew to hold 75 children, all of whom received special tutoring where needed, therapeutic interventions and a variety of many after school activities such as sports, arts & crafts, music, computers etc.

We celebrate all our children's birthdays as part of our regular program in which we try to make every child feel special and king for a day. In addition, our youth opened their own social club in the evenings.

In 2007 we opened our first youth facility. There are currently 10 adolescent - 14 years and older, who earned the right to join this house just for their age group. Unlike the children's homes, the youth facility has both a mother and a male figure in the home, serving as educators and role models for various areas of independent living.

By the end of 2008, we plan to open another facility for adolescents, ages 16 and over. This home will help prepare our children for life after the village, and will serve as an alternative home for those of our graduates who have no family to live with. Our facility will care for their needs and will accompany them throughout their military service/national service, and beyond. In this way SOS Israel will continue providing care for the children who have grown up in our village in preparation for their next step to independence.