A summer treat for children in need

These summer camps fulfill a crucial logistical void.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
CHILDREN RAFT last week as part of the IFCJ Summer of Friendship program. (photo credit: ANCHO GUSH)
CHILDREN RAFT last week as part of the IFCJ Summer of Friendship program.
(photo credit: ANCHO GUSH)
While many children can boast of fun-filled summer vacations with their family, there are some that are not so fortunate.
For that reason, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews provides a fulfilling summer experience for children in need with their Summer of Friendship program.
About 7,000 children who hail from boarding schools across the nation, were able to kick back and relax as they participated in many activities like rafting, skating, hiking and visiting museums for two jam-packed days fully funded by the organization.
“Summer vacation is the most enjoyable and exciting time of year for children and youth, but while most of the children of Israel spend time at the beach and abroad, it is important to remember the difficult circumstances of their lives,” said IFCJ’s president, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. “We see the light in the eyes of the children, who for the most part have never had a family trip. In two experiential days we have managed to fill their hearts with a lot of strength to continue on their way to building a better life.”
These summer camps fulfill a crucial logistical void, the organization said, as these children, who are enrolled in school throughout the year, suddenly find themselves without a proper educational framework as summer beckons and parents who can’t afford alternatives.
This NIS $2 million project is just one of the IFCJ’s projects. Throughout the year, the organization allocates funds to help the elderly, Holocaust survivors and those below the poverty line, to name a few.