Israel Tennis & Education Centers
Special Report for the Tampa Community
Girls’ Empowerment Program, Ashkelon
Introduction
Dear Tampa Community Members,
The Girls Empowerment Program is one of ITEC’s flagship social impact programs, which has proven to be very successful over the past 10 years.
The program provides a solution for girls who come from different homes and backgrounds, having different kind of social and emotional challenges.
Over the course of the year, I witnessed amazing changes the girls went through, under the guidance of the professional staff of the center.
There is no doubt that the program plays a positive role in the lives of the girls who participate in your program.
I am happy to share with you that despite this challenging year, we have been able to operate 9 programs, serving 113 at-risk girls:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generous donation.
Sincerely yours,
Shuki Rajman ITEC Social Impact Director
About the Girls’ Empowerment Program at ITEC
The Girls’ Empowerment program harnesses the game of tennis to provide knowledge, skills, and opportunities to at-risk girls aged 11-14. The sports activities are carried out in groups.
The program is designed to foster the independence and self-image of girls from disadvantaged neighborhoods. It encompasses the development of a positive group atmosphere, improvement of health and lifestyle, and the imparting of life skills such as self-confidence, independence, trust, teamwork, goal-setting, and problem-solving.
The program operates on two main axes that provide a solution to the need to build self-confidence and independence, develop thinking ability, acquire life tools, and build trust between the group’s members.
Research, backed by our 40 years of experience, consistently shows a strong correlation between youth engagement in sports and their self-confidence, capability, and success. This underscores the enduring benefits of our program.
Acquiring self-confidence and a sense of ability does not remain only on the tennis court. Still, it allows those girls to flourish and develop in the school environment, whether in social or educational aspects.
Throughout the year, the girls meet every week with a social instructor who specializes in working with at-risk girls. Within this framework, a discourse on gender and society issues develops, with the aim of broadening the girls’ perspective and allowing them to dream, dare, and strive to reach far.
The Girls’ Empowerment program goes way beyond tennis, using sport and other activities to provide skills and opportunities to girls ages of 11-14 who are at risk. Through group sports activities and social impact programming, the Girls’ Empowerment Program aims to develop the girls’ independence and self-image.
The goals of the program are:
• Improving overall health and lifestyle.
• Learning about women’s health
• Providing tools for life, such as: self-confidence, independence, creating trust in members of the peer group, teamwork, setting goals and problem solving.
• Increasing confidence and self - worth.
• Learning to trust and rely on adults and on peers.
• Becoming aware of women’s rights.
• Developing ambition and broaden horizons.
Many girls who participated in the program, enlisted, and achieved a leading position in the IDF or in higher education.
Letters from Staff
It was truly inspiring to see the girls return to practice with such enthusiasm, despite the challenges they faced due to the war. Their resilience and eagerness to learn and play were a testament to their strength.
The girls come from the Rambam Ecological School, next to the tennis center. The program is a golden opportunity for everyone in the group, especially families from low socioeconomic status. The school advocates the values of preserving the environment and the health of the body and mind, and this is compatible with ITEC’s program, which includes sports activities, values for a healthy lifestyle, and more.
The girls express how happy they are to come to the tennis center. They also really enjoy the activity that their instructor and mentor, Livnat Avraham, gives them at their school every Thursday—a workshop for a healthy lifestyle and empowerment.
In the shadow of the war in Israel, one of the most difficult we have known, we were able to celebrate the Tu Bishvet together. This holiday symbolizes blossoming and renewal, something we pray for every day. We planted pots together throughout the center, and being together was a great feeling. We also dressed up in honor of Purim; the children celebrated together at a party we organized at the tennis center, with activity stations and with hope for better days for all of us.
To mark the Good Deeds Day, the girls arrived at the Moriya Education School, where two groups are in our Special Tennis program. We invited classes outside the special program so they could come for a joint activity under the guidance of the coaches and the girls. It was exciting to see the girls’ responsibility to lead the children with special needs in a fun sports activity.
Your support for the Ashkelon Girls’ Empowerment program has significantly impacted these girls’ lives. In this challenging year, your contribution has enabled them to participate in enriching activities that they would not have had the opportunity to experience otherwise. You should be proud of the impact you’ve made.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Bracha Beit Ner Social Impact Coordinator
As part of the Girls’ Empowerment program for 6th-graders from the Rambam Ecological School, the girls receive tools to experience diverse sports activities, which combine social interaction, formation and empowerment, self-confidence, and tennis playing skills.
While playing together, the girls learn and experience - with mutual respect, group and personal support, persistence ability, physical training, and accepting team losses and wins.
The girls have a lot of fun in the workshops with Livnat, and they are exposed to new and nutritious recipes. The joint seminar creates a bond between them.
The girls’ empowerment program has been instrumental in unlocking the potential of these young girls, instilling in them values that are not only crucial for their personal growth but also align with the ethos of our school, which is to promote ecology and a healthy environment.
The staff at the center, with their warmth and dedication, have been instrumental in empowering and enriching our students. Their support, both physical and emotional, has been a cornerstone in nurturing the self-confidence of our girls. We also acknowledge the professionalism and high quality of the instructors, Ariel Oshri and Yossi, who have been instrumental in training the girls with grace and warmth.
We thank the wonderful donors who helped and enabled our students to break forward and prepare them for matriculation as school graduates.
Thank you,
Eti Teacher, Rambam Ecological School
Good Deeds Day
Healthy Cooking Workshop
Celebrating Holidays
Meet the Children of the Girls’ Empowerment Program, Ashkelon
Avia Ben Shalosh, 12 years old:
Due to her participation in the ITEC program, Avia has become more disciplined. She makes an effort to be organized and punctual and participates in sports activities even though she is not used to doing them.
At first, she did not want to participate in the program, but I saw the potential for how much it could benefit her—both on a personal level by developing her abilities and on a social level by connecting her with girls because she is sometimes lonely.
Despite her personal challenges, she took an active part in most of the activities.
Because of this, we can see tremendous growth in her. She is more open and has more social interactions with the girls. It’s still a journey, but at least I see the remarkable change in her. The content strengthened her self-image
Meet the Children of the Girls’ Empowerment Program, Ashkelon
Esther Abba, 12 years old:
At the beginning of the project, Esther was a very introverted and quiet student, barely smiling. After a period of this program, I see a positive change in Esther. Today, I see Esther smiling more optimistically and happily.
Spending time on the tennis courts, participating in empowerment workshops, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle allowed her to develop new skills and experiment with new things, which is how she opened up and became more sociable.
Unfortunately, Esther’s father passed away just a few months ago. Between her father’s death and the ongoing war in Israel, this has been a very difficult time for Esther and her family.
Fortunately, Esther looks forward to her weekly programs at the Ashkelon Tennis Center. She participates in the Girls Empowerment Program, and for at least some period of time each week, Esther can enjoy the comradery of the other girls in the program, have some fun playing tennis, and participate in the helpful workshops with Livnat, one of ITEC’s dedicated staff members.
These ITEC programs help Esther and the others gain renewed hope and positivity, helping them feel more confident and secure.
To our wonderful donors, playing tennis gives us so much! We erous donation
Letters from Participants
To the amazing donors, we have learned a lot from the activities. We learned to help each other and many other social skills. Thank you to Bracha, Ariel and Tzhachi and to you our donors.
From Renee
Embrace Program, Haifa Embrace Program - Haifa
Introduction
Dear Tampa Community,
My name is Eran Dank, and I have been managing the tennis center in Haifa for the past three years. In these years, the children of Hofim High School have come to us for two training units at the tennis center. This is to practice, get to know, and celebrate this game called tennis.
They come here to be part of a common journey beyond tennis; it is also about friendship, responsibility, and acceptance of others. In recent years, our group has included children from various backgrounds—immigrants, new immigrants from Eastern Europe and Ethiopia, children from supportive families, and those from less connected families.
It is wonderful to see the smiles, joy and hard work that come to us.
Your generous support is the main factor allowing us to continue to grow. You give us the power and means to offer the children the best experience, teach them sports and social values, and connect cultures to create a shared world of dignity and respect.
Especially, the arrival of these children teachs that everything is possible. The arrival of these children teaches them that it is also possible otherwise. They come here to clear their heads and meet a reality where they feel safe—where everyone can express themselves and be happy.
I promise you that we will continue to invest all the energy and commitment we have built to ensure that every day will be a special and impressive day for our children. Our dedication to these children is unwavering, and we will continue to strive for their betterment.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generous and important support. Your contribution is not just a financial aid, but a vote of confidence in our mission and a testament to the impact we are making in the lives of these children.
Eran Dank ITEC Haifa, Center Manager
Letters from Staff
This is my fifth year as program coordinator at the tennis center in Haifa, and I am very proud of this program!
In joint thinking with the municipality, we decided this year to continue working with the Hofit School located in the challenging neighborhood - of Shaar Aliya. The school is located in the heart of a neighborhood in an area characterized by a population from a weak socioeconomic background and a great diversity of immigrants from different countries alongside veterans and a large population of new immigrants, mainly from Ukraine.
The school principal is very appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to enrich many children with an activity that they would not have received without your donation.
This year, following the war, the importance of the activity for the children is even greater. It breaks their routine and gives them quality time to spend energy and be happy with friends.
We are deeply grateful for your support and the opportunity it provides to continue making a positive impact on these children’s lives. Without you, this could not have happened.
Shahar Kima Social Impact Coordinator
About the Embrace Integration Program
The Embrace group in Haifa has been operating for the third year in cooperation with the Hofit School.
The Hofit school, in the Shaar Aliya neighborhood (one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city) is home to a wide variety of populations - new immigrants from Russia and Ukraine, new immigrants from Ethiopia and citizens from all over the world. The neighborhood in which the school is located is a neighborhood with a medium to low socio-economic background
The Group
These are boys and girls in grades 3-5 aged 9-11. This year, in collaboration with the school’s principal, the counselor, and the 3rd and 4th grade teachers, about 22 children were selected. Selectaed to participate is low socio-economic and varing emotional needs.
The Program
During our very first meeting, we explained to the children that this group is not just tennis, it is much more. We also place great emphasis on the social and value aspect during the activity.
Every week, the children come to us for tennis training, which also includes values and acceptance of differences. This year, unlike previous years, we had a very big challenge with the children of the group. Already after two training sessions, the war broke out. The school did not receive permission to bring the children to us at the tennis center. Concerned about the condition of the children and with the goal of preserving the activity, we sat together with the principal of the school who understands the importance of the activity and thought about what to do.
About the Embrace Integration Program CONT.
We decided to continue the program despite the war and held the training inside the school near protected areas (this was a time when there were quite a few alarms). For the first two months, we had to hold meetings on the school’s field, and our team came to the children with all the equipment—including a portable net.
To help the children cope, some of the training sessions also included conversations about the ongoing war, and allowed the children to discuss their feelings, their fears and their concerns.
During one session, Coach Mario shared is own situation with the kids. He had been evacuated from his home in Rosh Hanikara, and shared his own feelings of uncertainty. In addition, Coach Mario had immigrated to Israel from Portugal about 4 years ago, and also shared his difficulties coming to a new country, learning a new language, and everything else he went through while getting accustomed to his new home.
So many of the children in the Embrace Integration Program are new immigrants to Israel, and they found great comforted learn that Coach Mario and other ITEC staff were experiencing the same feelings and daily struggles that they were going through.
During the training where we distributed the equipment, the children’s joy and excitement were palpable. It was a proud moment for all of us to see their happiness and the sense of abundance they felt, both in terms of equipment and the support from the dedicated staff.
Photos from the Embrace Program
