Etgarim Opens New Center in Sderot for People With Disabilities
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
The Etgarim association is inaugurating a new center in Sderot on Wednesday, offering extreme sports activities for individuals with disabilities from the city and surrounding Gaza envelope communities. The center aims to provide a consistent space for activity, connection, and empowerment, building on the association's support for evacuated Sderot residents after October 7th. Mayor Alon Davidi and Etgarim CEO Nir Hacohen highlighted the initiative as a significant step in the city's recovery and a symbol of community resilience.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Etgarim opened a new center in Sderot on Wednesday for children and adults with disabilities.
- The center will offer extreme sports activities in nature, fostering capability and connection.
- The initiative began with Etgarim supporting Sderot residents evacuated after the October 7th attacks.
- Mayor Alon Davidi called the opening a "moving full circle" for the city's recovery.
- Etgarim CEO Nir Hacohen emphasized a long-term partnership with Sderot and Gaza envelope residents.
The Etgarim association is opening a new center in Sderot on Wednesday, three years after its initial outreach to evacuated residents of the city at the Dead Sea following the October 7th attacks. The permanent facility will offer extreme sports activities in nature for children and adults with disabilities from Sderot and the Gaza envelope communities, aiming to foster a sense of capability and provide a regular space for activity and social connection.
The association's connection with Sderot residents began in the early weeks after the October 7th attack, when Etgarim provided a respite through various activities like cycling, rope parks, kayaking, and running for families evacuated to hotels near the Dead Sea. These efforts, which included a diving course in Eilat and a rappelling course in the Judean Desert for teenagers, inspired the idea for a permanent base in Sderot.
Following discussions with Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi, the plan to establish the center gained momentum. Even before the new building was ready, Etgarim continued its work in Sderot and surrounding areas, operating in special education schools and kindergartens, and with disability frameworks. The new center will expand these offerings, including cycling, rope parks, and running, and will also serve as a hub for activities in the Gaza envelope communities.
Mayor Davidi expressed that the center's opening signifies a "moving full circle," transitioning from an organization that supported residents during their displacement to one that is now investing in the city's recovery and growth. He emphasized that community, partnership, and sports are key to building resilience and empowering individuals. Etgarim CEO Nir Hacohen echoed this sentiment, calling the center's establishment a "moving full circle" and the beginning of a long-term partnership with the residents of Sderot and the Gaza envelope.