Special Education Students Train for Meaningful IDF Service Through Marine Activities

Every week, 12th-grade students from the Kishon Special Education School in the Jezreel Valley participate in a preparatory course for the Israel Defense Forces at the Ginosar Marine Center on the Sea of Galilee. Organized by the Variety Israel Association in collaboration with the Ziv Neorim Association, the course includes kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and boating activities designed to build teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, and leadership skills.

The program, running for three years and recently expanded to include a dedicated 12th-grade group, aims to prepare students with special needs for meaningful military service. Through physical and social challenges, participants learn to cooperate, lead group tasks, and develop self-discipline. Student Eitan Prachovnik from Nof HaGalil shared how the course helped him become more outgoing and confident, with aspirations to serve in the Israeli Navy on a Dabur-class patrol boat.

Another participant, Raz Keren from Kibbutz Dovrat, highlighted the transformation from individual effort to strong group cohesion during a team rowing challenge. Tam Shapa, director of the Ziv Neorim Marine Center, emphasized the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to discover hidden abilities and prepare for future integration into broader frameworks such as military service.

Shlomit Elad, director of Variety Israel, noted the long-standing partnership with Kishon School and the significance of this program in supporting special needs youth, especially in the current context. The activities are funded in part by corporate donations, including a generous contribution from Clal Insurance and Finance. The course not only offers physical training but also fosters responsibility, leadership, and confidence to help students succeed in military service and beyond.