Arab-Jewish Community Center, Jaffa

May 2011

Peter Becker Award 2010 for Peace & Conflict Studies

Arab Jewish Community Center

• Established in 1993, affiliated with the

Tel Aviv Municipality

• Caters to the Muslim, Christian and

Jewish Community

Four Main Areas:

• Enrichment and Educational Activities for

Children

• Workshops and Enrichment

• Coexistence and Democracy

• Social Welfare

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

• The aim is to provide a stable environment

for the impoverished children while

promoting tolerance of one another by

creating a cohesive unit of active staff and

children.

• Staff works individually with the children to

help them recognize their personal

strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the

staff remains in close contact with the social

workers and families of the children to

further ensure a positive influence.

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Project Overview

Background: Jaffa and the local Population

• Poorest and the most marginalized group both in the municipal area of Tel

Aviv-Jaffa and in all of Israel

• Forty six percent of the children in Jaffa live below the poverty line, while

56% are High school drop outs

• Many children in Jaffa suffer from malnutrition, severe emotional health

problems, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and lack social skills.

• Without structured activity and sufficient care in after-school hours, these

children are forced to cope with the difficult reality on Jaffa’s streets.

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

• October 2000 - violent clashes mainly between teenagers in

response to heavy outbursts of violence between Arab and Jewish

citizens, and police that were taking place all over Israel.

• The Arab-Jewish Community Center set up an emergency tent at

the in Jaffa for a month after these events for residents to express

their concerns and engage in open dialogue.

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Background: Isolated Incidents in Jaffa

Problematic Issues in Jaffa

• Low socio-economic status and the

subsequent deprivation of educational and

extra-curricular opportunities

• Lack of normative support systems e.g.

positive role-models within the family

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

• The Day Care Center for Children at Risk has met the needs of 40

children age 6-13 each year since its launch in 2003.

• To operate a stable framework for the children of elementary

schools in Jaffa, who are in need of educational enrichment and

specialized emotional.

• Framework includes the provision of tools to prevent fear and

hatred of the “Other” from developing at a young age.

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Solution: Immediate Relief and Long Term Investment

• To enforce the acceptance of the “Other” for any chance of

sustainable tolerance and coexistence using the “harmony

model” of civilian conflict management.

“In the harmony model, conflict management starts with the minimization of conflict

in organizations through norms stressing observance of mutual obligations and

status orderings. Conflicts are defined in their totality, and resolution is aided by

avoidance and an accommodative style. Less emphasis is placed on procedural

justice, as on maintenance of face of self and others. Third parties are used

extensively, and their role is more intrusive.” (Kazan, 1997)

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Solution: Immediate Relief and Long Term Investment

• To expose Arab, Jewish and former Soviet children to other cultures in order to prevent stereotypes forming at a young age.

• To facilitate cooperation, tolerance and friendship between Arabs, Jews and former Soviet citizens.

• To develop patterns of non-violent behavior and grant tools to cope with the daily reality in Jaffa, including exposure to aggressive and violent situations.

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Objectives:Civilian Conflict Management

• To provide every child with nutritional meals and other basic needs

• To assist the children academically

• To strengthen the children’s self confidence, self-esteem and personal identity

• To provide emotional care and assistance to each child according to their individual needs, in an open, non-judgmental environment.

• To encourage families to be involved in their children's lives

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Objectives:Personal Growth

Achieving the Objectives:

• Therapy and Emotional Welfare

• Arab-Jewish Partnership

• Contact with Families

• Integration within the normative community

• Professional Assistance

• Nutrition

• Educational Activity

• Social Activities

• Enrichment and Creative Activity

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Evaluation Process:

Children are evaluated before entering the Day Care based on the

purpose of their application, family background, academic

performance, social skills, emotional skills and health status.

1. Weekly reports for each child are filled out by an instructor of the personal therapeutic intervention program.

2. Weekly staff meetings

3. Volunteer reports

4. Meetings with parents

5. Surveys filled out by the child’s school teacher

6. Home visit report – condition of the residence, family interpersonal relations, parents’ satisfaction with the Day Care

7. Weekly counselor report – child’s progress, conclusions/recommendations on appropriate interventions

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Individual Evaluations throughout the program include:

Conclusions :

• The goal of the Day Care Center is to promote tolerance

between the diverse mix of Jews, Muslims and Christians who

attend, in order to instill the values of civilian conflict

management in these children’s lives and ensure the future

security of the region.

• The children are encouraged to work together, to recognize

their own strengths and to accept the “Other” so that they may

achieve excellence.

• The Day Care Center has a positive influence on each child’s

personal development and we have seen first-hand how this, in

turn, has an invaluable effect on the children’s families and the

entire society.

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Day Care Center for Arab & Jewish Children at Risk

Thank you

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