Israeli Sailing Team Surfs With Special Needs Children
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Members of Israel's national sailing teams volunteered with the "Beit Al Hayam" association, engaging special needs children in surfing activities in Herzliya. Initiated by windsurfer Tomer Vardimon, the event aimed to foster positive influence and reciprocal benefits between athletes and the community. Olympic champion Tom Reuveni called it a significant volunteer experience, highlighting the strength derived from the initiative. The association supports various populations, serving 1,500 children and 250 families last year.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli national sailing team members volunteered with the "Beit Al Hayam" association for special needs families.
- The event included surfing activities and a Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony in Herzliya.
- Windsurfer Tomer Vardimon initiated the collaboration, which was supported by the Olympic Committee of Israel.
- Olympic champion Tom Reuveni praised the initiative, calling it a significant volunteer experience.
- Beit Al Hayam utilizes the sea and community to support special needs individuals, veterans, and trauma survivors.
- Last year, the association served 1,500 children and youth with special needs and 250 families.
Fifteen members of Israel's national sailing teams participated in a volunteer day with the "Beit Al Hayam" (House on the Sea) association, which supports families with special needs. The event, initiated by windsurfer Tomer Vardimon and supported by the Olympic Committee of Israel, took place last Friday at Beit Al Hayam in Herzliya. Athletes engaged in surfing activities with children with special needs and their families, concluding with a Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony.
Vardimon, a member of the national team, has been volunteering with the association for six years, aiming to involve more teammates to experience the impact of working with these children and families. He emphasized the responsibility and power of athletes to influence others positively, noting the reciprocal benefits of such volunteer work. "As athletes, we have the responsibility to come and influence people, and we have the power to do it," Vardimon stated. He highlighted the inspiring resilience of individuals facing physical disabilities and special needs, adding that "the power of giving is what plays here." He also sees a connection between the people he helps and the nation he represents in international competitions.
The event was held at Beit Al Hayam's accessible surfing club, a unique facility in Israel operated in partnership with the Herzliya Municipality. Among the attendees were Herzliya Mayor Yariv Fischer, Deputy Mayor Dana Oren Yanai, Olympic Committee CEO Adi Bichman, and VP Jordan Har-Lev. Shai Viter, a co-founder of Beit Al Hayam, expressed pride in the collaboration, noting the therapeutic and educational benefits of the sea and sports for participants. He described the event as a meeting of champions from different worlds converging by the sea.
Olympic champion Tom Reuveni, who participated in the event, described Beit Al Hayam as a place that provides "a lot of strength and power, both to the families and to us who volunteered." He called the day one of his most significant volunteer experiences, praising Vardimon's initiative and recommending that others contribute to good causes. Beit Al Hayam utilizes the sea and community to support populations including special needs individuals, IDF veterans, and trauma survivors. Last year, the association served 1,500 children and youth with special needs, 250 families, and 450 volunteers. The "Families on the Sea" program, supported by the Azrieli Foundation, ensures that all family members participate equally.
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