Morning Enrichment

Each morning students from first through sixth grades in 12 neighboring elementary schools come to the Jaffa Institute centers for enrichment classes in mathematics, Hebrew, history, Jewish culture, and social studies. The classes are designed to complement and enhance the children’s regular school curriculum. As such the Jaffa Institute staff coordinates with local school administrators and teachers to tailor the enrichment classes to meet the needs of the students. Throughout the school year, Morning Enrichment classes focus on various themes such as democracy, cooperation, drug prevention, environmental conservation, cultural awareness, and violence prevention through the use of creative techniques such as computers, drama, and arts and crafts. Thousands of children participate every year.

Violence Prevention Program - Combining the use of multimedia software with group work on intervention, the violence prevention program teaches skills to curb and prevent occurrences of violent behavior among the at-risk youth in our service area.  The program consists of 10 meetings – each approximately two hours long – where third grade students learn about the triggers and diffusers of violent contact.  The program confronts the children with many situations where they may be tempted to use violence and at the same time assesses each child’s preparedness to deal with the situation at hand. The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce instances of violence in schools, playgrounds, and as the children grow older, the streets.

Cultural Awareness Program - Over 700 fourth grade students are taught about their city’s rich history through audio visual aids and field trips. Trips to historical landmarks and parks help to illustrate both the changes and consistency in Jaffa’s architecture and landscapes. Counselors stress both Jewish and Arab historic and cultural backgrounds which increase the children’s mutual understanding and encourage a shared history and responsibility toward the city of Jaffa.

My Green Jaffa, Our Green World – Fourth and fifth grade students are introduced to basic principles of environmental conservation by addressing environmental awareness and responsibility. The ten-session program uses examples from everyday life as program staff stress appreciation for the environment, care for Israel’s fragile ecosystem, and the importance of preserving green spaces. Children brainstorm community action ideas and then go out into the streets to enact their environmental protection projects.