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.