Background

Sports of all activities benefit players' physical development, but more than that, sports foster and facilitate tolerance, ethical behavior, fair play and respect for others.  In the firm 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 informative influences on the lives of Jerusalem youngsters.

Over 4,000 youngsters from diverse backgrounds participate in the Hapoel Jerusalem Youth Program in such sports as karate, judo, swimming, track and filed, soccer, basketball, badminton and archery. Basketball is the most popular, attracting over 1,200 young people between the ages of eight and eighteen who are organized into 43 teams that play 16-25 games a season. The basis of the program is individual instruction in basketball's fundamentals and team practice led by a highly trained and committed coaching staff. Participation in these teams with their strong emphasis on fair play and sportsmanship helps to develop the essential values of tolerance, understanding, ethical behavior and respect for others so necessary in Israeli society today. Sports build more than muscles here, they build character.

In Jerusalem, a city composed of diverse populations --religious and secular, Sephadi and Ashkenazi, new immigrants from the FSU and Ethiopia, Jews, Christians and Muslims--this program is playing a vital role in teaching young people how to work and cooperate with each other irrespective of who or what they are. Youth from all of the diverse communities within Jerusalem come to Hapoel Youth Basketball program with the same deep desire--to play basketball to the best of their ability. For many, the Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Program has been a major force in turning around their lives. Some were juvenile delinquents, the product of broken homes or parents with a criminal background, who joined the program and found a new home there, Within the program, they develop self-confidence, pride in their achievements and the moral fiber necessary to become law-abiding citizens.

The vision of the founders who launched the program over 40 years ago was just this--that sports activity can be the means to promote understanding, tolerance and ethical behavior between young people and help them to become good citizens.

Hapoel Jerusalem Youth Program has 3 full-time staff, 37 part-time staff and 12 volunteers. There are no other similar organizations in Jerusalem.

FUNDING REQUEST

Purpose and Need:

Hapoel Jerusalem Youth Program is aiming to be the "Basketball Center for Youth in Israel in the 21str Century. This includes Jewish and Arab. The Arab players are generally living in disadvantage areas and have b\no funds to participate in the program. This has resulted in a much smaller number of Arab players than the population represents.   Our project will target three Arab communities, Abu Ghosh, Beit Safafa, and East Jerusalem with the goal of bringing them into the Hapoel Youth Basketball Program in greater numbers.  This will also offer academic support and finally integrating them with the Jewish players in the program.  We will also fully integrate their coaches into the program.