Maccabim in the Train Station Neighborhood
This project's parent organization is The Maccabim Association – Soccer and Education in the Community
It operates in Israel
It uses Football (Soccer)
Entered the Sport For Social Inclusion Award
More about Maccabim in the Train Station Neighborhood
The “Train Station” neighborhood is a segregated and neglected area in the city of Lod. The neighborhood is inhabited by 95% Muslim Arabs and 5% Christian Arabs. Up until a year ago there was an extremely high rate of drug dealing in the neighborhood.
The children living there were in constant danger and lacked any social activities or recreational opportunities. 4 years ago the police launched an aggressive operation to “clean” it from drugs. Following their request, we started promoting an emergency project to save the children of the neighborhood, in affiliation with the Maccabi Tel Aviv professional sports club. For the last three years, the project provides a holistic solution for 220 boys and girls aged 6-12 from three elementary schools in the neighborhood.
In the framework of the project, the children participate in soccer activities, as well as receive academic assistance and two hot meals per week. Through the combination of sports, education, homework assistance and nutrition, we hope to provide children at risk with a safe, enriching and enjoyable framework that will serve as an alternative to crime and violence and assist them to become agents of change within their community.