Throughout the school year, Mechina participants attend the Idan Educational Technology Center in Emek HaMa’ayanot, a joint regional center for technological development, educational innovation, and employment. It is attended by children from schools across the valley (the Emek), who come for enrichment workshops held on various technological subjects.
Inbar, a participant of the Mechina describes the experience:
“We’d come to Idan Technology twice a week. For me, as a newcomer to the Emek, Idan Technology depicts a place that inspires technological progress in Emek HaMa’ayanot. Indeed it is. It forms an outlet for original creation, independent self-expression in the full sense of the word, and in my eyes, it breaks conventions in all respects. It perpetuates the expression, “when there’s a will, there’s a way.” We usually see this phrase represented easily in other disciplines but here Idan Technology has a place on the team. They burst the social convention that construction tools belong to the realm of the “adult world” only. There children learn, recognize, discern, think, draw conclusions, and develop wisdom by using all their senses, and foremost using their hands as the main means. The overall place, the designed space, which encourages creativity to soar, and the staff of course, enable each boy, girl, or teenager to discover the space to develop, experiment, make mistakes, fix them, and finally, to enjoy the active experience.”
The participants help plan lessons or workshops at the center, and act as assistants to the guides for groups of students. “We met children and youth from the Emek, accompanied them through Idan’s unique learning program, and tried exposing them to technology in a positive light. One of the programs in which we participated included personal mentoring. I was privileged to get to know a group of intelligent girls, who were rich in laughter, love, and creativity. They provided me with the opportunity to observe and discover other people, to open up the possibility of expressing themselves with confidence, while enjoying it. At my first mentoring meeting, I expressed the simplest fact about Idan Technology in front of them – everything at Idan takes place with the purpose of serving you. Although this is a technical statement of allegiance as part of presenting the place to them, it did, however, penetrate a deep realization within me as to how anything can be possible.”
The students and Mechina participants formed a special and long-lasting connection, which ended in an emotional farewell at the close of the year. Beautiful messages bestowed by the students were presented, that touched the hearts of all involved.
“I concluded the Mechina year equipped to continue in life with all kinds of tools. Idan Technology gave me inspiration and realistic hope that the field of education can be more. A lot more.”
Mor Karassin, the director of the center, talks about the work with the Mechina participants:
“Inbar, Noam, Amir, and Ziv, are four Mechina members who were a part of the team at Idan Technology during the course of the year, which has now ended. Twice a week, on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, they’d arrive with immense motivation to lead activities and perform unique work in the Idan Technology arena.
“During the year, the Mechina participants gained a great deal of knowledge while operating a wide range of technological tools, and passing on their knowledge in the encounters with children from Emek HaMa’ayanot and the region. These encounters allowed for personal mentoring in small groups in line with the requirements of the schools, and as guides for classes that attended lessons at Idan as part of their school curriculum. The participants became significant figures at Idan and for the school children.
“This is the third year we’ve had Mechina participants join us, and from year to year, we learn how to improve our work together. We really enjoyed working with them, and we wish everyone success on their new path. We’ll always be happy to welcome them when they come visit the Emek.”