AMIT Director General, Dr. Amnon Eldar, spent the day in Sderot meeting with municipal leadership, educators, and students. He met with Mayor Alon Davidi and Deputy Mayor Elad Kalimi, who oversees education in the city. Davidi and Kalimi both praised AMIT and spoke about our longstanding strategic partnership. They thanked us for the work we did in the four learning centers over the past five months, and for the extensive work with the city’s educational teams gearing up for everyone’s return to school. Approximately 80% of our students are back and at school with 90% of our teachers, who clearly feel a true sense of dedication and commitment despite their personal fears, family situations, and challenges.
One of the most important things we can give our students now, after everything they have been through, is a sense of normal routine. The schedule has been built in such a way where it offers routine with built-in flexibility. It is very important to us that the school year not be lost academically for the youth of Sderot, so academic marathons are currently taking place to make sure students are ready for their Bagrut exams. The determination in the students to not just succeed but excel is inspirational. They view it as part of Israel’s victory over Hamas.
Tatzam has proven to be a very meaningful tool during this time of transition. Reshet expert Chagai Vigoda is working with all educators and Tatzam leaders in Sderot. Teachers and students are undergoing a Tatzam process, which provides them with individual and group emotional support. We recognize the depth of the trauma our students experienced beginning October 7, and we will continue to work with the Sderot municipality to provide professional therapy for those who need it, which we estimate to be 25% of the student body.
General Tal Russo, who works closely with AMIT’s Partnerships Unit and 24/7 program, joined Amnon for the visit. The city has decided they want a city-wide 24/7 model, expanding to all three high schools and nine elementary schools in town, and will be hiring 12 24/7 school-based leaders. This model allows the city to manage all partnerships, volunteer efforts, programs through government, private sector, nonprofits, and more, ensuring each school gets the specific opportunities most relevant to them. This will not only save time and resources but will also allow the schools to receive a much more focused and strategic partnerships plan. The 12 positions will be covered initially from the emergency campaign as interim funding, and we are confident these funds will be repaid through both the municipality and 24/7 partnerships.
Despite the many challenges facing our people in the ongoing war, standing in Sderot singing HaTikvah with our students back in their hometown after all they have been through truly gives us a sense of optimism and hope.
