Making it Meaningful
Shutaf was given an incredible opportunity this past spring – a partnership with Ramah’s TRY High School in Israel Program. Shutaf provided an interdisciplinary approach to learning about disability and inclusion.
Ramah TRY teens were presented with information about the ethical and educational values on which Shutaf was founded – the need for an accepting environment for all kids and meeting each child at his/her level.
TRY students worked together developing program ideas for a group of kids – special needs and typically-developing – and shared their thoughts about challenges that might exist within the Shutaf inclusion model.
Putting what they’d learned to use, TRY teens planned and executed an afternoon carnival that was both fun and appropriate for Shutaf’s population. The kids played with balloons, bowled, decorated cookies, made ‘pasta’ jewelry and other fun activities. The interaction between Shutaf kids and TRY teens was a powerful and positive experience for everyone.
Our final project together was a TRY-organized walk-a-thon for Shutaf kids and TRY teens. Everyone walked from the Nature Museum in the German Colony to the Goldstein Youth Village where TRY teens live for the 4-months that they’re in Israel. Wearing bright colored Shutaf/TRY shirts, holding hand-decorated signs, singing songs and chatting with people passing by, they made an impressive and inclusive procession of kids, teens and adult staff. It was a beautiful, sunny day and everyone felt accomplished when they arrived and enjoyed a well-deserved snack together at the Ramah TRY home in Israel.
Shutaf thanks all TRY teens for the fundraising work they did as part of the walk-a-thon. Shutaf looks forward to sharing many more fun experiences with the TRY community in the future.
