"Developing Understanding Through Sports"

SUMMARY

In the firm belief that young people whose character and behavior are being formed could benefit our society by learning through sports, Hapoel Jerusalem Youth Program began over 40 years ago.  Today, it is one of the most formative influences on the lives of thousands of Jerusalem youngsters.  Some 4,000 youngsters participate in Hapoel Youth Program's wide variety of sports, but the most popular sports is basketball.  Hapoel Jerusalem Youth Program seeks to be the basketball center for youth in Israel in the 21st Century.  In order to include all the youth from every background and ethnic groups, we designed a special project to reach out to the Israeli Arab youth who cannot afford to participate in the program.  Our three-stage program involves training Arab coaches and players from three Jerusalem area communities, working with player's parents and teachers to strengthen the players' academic skills, and finally integrating them in informal classes and training with the present teams from Jewish public schools.  We hope to build understanding and tolerance between Jewish and Arab youth learning together and playing basketball together.  Your support will go to the education program, providing for teachers from both the Jewish and Arab schools who will develop the enrichment program for the joint classes.  It will also go towards instruction for the Arab coaches to train them in Hapoel methodology.  Your contribution will help to advance youth sports in Jerusalem and assist in the development of sportsmanlike behavior, tolerance and respect between young players that will carry over into Israeli society.