Israeli Sports Stars Engage Youth in Anti-Bullying Initiative

As the new school year begins, prominent figures from Israeli sports will participate in "Changing the Rules of the Game," a nationwide initiative running from September 6-10. The program aims to connect youth with sports figures and channel personalities to combat bullying and boycotts.

Athletes and TV presenters will meet with diverse groups of teenagers in cities including Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Ra'anana, Jerusalem, and Haifa. Participants will include secular and religious youth, at-risk teens, youth league players, and both Jewish and Arab young people, reflecting the broad spectrum of Israeli society.

The core idea is to use sports, a familiar and engaging medium, to impart essential life skills and values. Through training sessions, group activities, and discussions with inspirational sports personalities, the project seeks to equip young people with tools to handle pressure and failure, foster a sense of belonging, friendship, responsibility, and empathy. These are skills crucial for navigating daily challenges in school, society, and online.

Each session will feature a dedicated training exercise followed by an open dialogue, where athletes will share personal experiences, discuss challenging moments, and the strategies they employed to overcome them. Yaron Segev, CEO of RGE Group, stated that the company has been a leader in combating youth bullying for five years through various campaigns and educational programs. He emphasized meeting youth "on their home turf" to promote values of friendship, responsibility, and empathy.

The initiative is supported by the Histadrut labor union and the Amal educational network, in collaboration with the "Five Fingers" movement, which is responsible for the professional content and sports activities. Karen Tal, CEO of Amal, highlighted the role of quality education in addressing social challenges and how sports methodologies can enhance this by building resilience, teamwork, and a commitment to supporting others. Amir Menachem, founder of "Five Fingers," added that sports teach invaluable life lessons beyond competition, such as resilience, responsibility, and leadership, experienced firsthand rather than through lectures.