27 Dec
Goodwill in the Emek, Uncategorized

Mechinat Matzpen

As part of our education program, HaEmek Mechina promotes tolerance and compassion towards those who are different, and works to strengthen the participants’ sense of mission and commitment towards society and its needs. One of this year’s leading social projects were the meetups with the members of Mechinat Matzpen, in accordance with COVID-19 regulations.

Mechinat Matzpen is a course of continued education for medium-to-high functioning young adults on the autistic spectrum. It is a component of the Nave class program, located on the premises of Geon HaYarden Darca School. The course comprises preparation for meaningful service, working life, and vocational study, along with additional subjects, which include self-management, civics, civil rights, community institutions, communication, self-representation, problem-solving, financial management, and relationships, among others.

The first meeting this year took place in the Neve classrooms at the Geon HaYarden School. An impressive ceremony in remembrance of Yitzchak Rabin was conducted, following which members participated in a joint activity about tolerance. The second meetup took place at the Eden Farm, where participants were handed assignments requiring the necessary cooperation as a team, in order to tackle tasks such as erecting a shed according to diagram instructions.

Future meetings will also take place at Eden Farm, for the opportunity to further deepen  the partnership between the two mechina programs, such as joint hikes and more task execution projects.

27 Dec
Goodwill in the Emek, Uncategorized

The Kfar Ruppin Community

About three years ago, the mechina found its new home in Kfar Ruppin. It was a perfect fit and right away, it became an integral part of the kibbutz community life.

We consider the kibbutz our home, and our connection with the community is an inseparable part of everyday life at the mechina. We have discovered a warm, welcome environment, where we have been received graciously and wholeheartedly by everyone. The community welcomed mechina participants with gifts they had prepared and through circle discussions with kibbutz residents, who told them about its history, current times, and the future outlook.

A  mechina staff team, which was established at the beginning of the year, is responsible for maintaining the ties with the Kfar Ruppin community, and together they organize a range of activities. These include educational activities involving the participation of kindergarten and school-age children; social and communal activities and events; and singing and dancing together before the onset of Shabbat and festivals. There are also discussion circles, which take place before special events, and communal learning of subjects such as current affairs and society, among other topics.

Additionally, mechina participants take part in joint projects at Mauricio’s Grove, next to the Kibbutz, which involve tending to its communal garden, running activities, and individual meetings and mentoring with the children, as well as long-time kibbutz members.