(live here with the community) - After the storm that arose with the announcement of the cancellation of the summer camp of the "Wings of Karambo" youth movement, which combines children and youth with and without special needs, which came as a result of budget cuts, and after mutual accusations were hurled between the current and previous governments regarding responsibility for the situation, it is now possible to breathe a sigh of relief. The camp is expected to take place as planned, thanks to adequate donations given to the movement by various companies.
Discount Bank announced that it will donate the necessary funds that will enable the existence of the summer camp of 'Krembo's Wings'. Due to the decrease in state support, there was concern that the summer camp would be canceled, but now, thanks to the contribution of Discount Bank, business companies, private donors and local authorities, the summer camp has come to fruition, like every year.
Wings of Krambo is a youth movement that combines children with special needs with children without special needs. and holds an informal social-educational activity, once a week in the afternoon, in a model of personal mentoring - in a group setting. Most of the mentors are teenagers from general education. The joint activity contributes to increasing awareness of special populations and social accessibility. One of the goals of the movement is to respond to their emotional needs and the social and integration of the campers in Israeli society.
About two weeks ago, it was announced on behalf of the "Wings of Karambo" movement - a unique youth movement, the only one in Israel that holds social-educational activities that integrate children and youth with and without special needs - that it is forced to cancel the movement's traditional summer camp that has been held for over a decade, and thousands of its activists are looking forward to it as well as their family members, this is due to a lack of budget.
Yasmin Rogel, who studies in the twelfth grade at Reut School in Haifa and is responsible for the activities in the traffic branch in the city, told Lahi Pa about the unique summer camp:
"Wings of Krambo is a youth movement that combines children and teenagers with and without special needs, as we have activities every week in mixed groups. I am responsible for the guides who conduct the activities. Our branch is in Neve David, and it is the only branch in Haifa."
Rogel continues: "The summer camp is one of the only opportunities for our activists with special needs where they are able to have such an experience. In fact, this camp provides an experience for the whole family. The whole family can go to it and there are activities for everyone, three-four days, with food, sleep And a lot of fun and varied activities, all of which are accessible.
In the camp, the activists meet friends from all over the country. You need to understand the meaning of the very social experience, where you meet with friends on vacation, do activities together, have experiences that, as I said, many cannot do anywhere else. Last year there was an ODT activity, a ropes park with Omega and a climbing wall, where everything is accessible to children and youth with physical disabilities, and which everyone can do, even with wheelchairs. These are things that cannot be done anywhere else."
The Minister of Welfare promised
Shortly after the publication of the movement's announcement about the cancellation of the summer camps, Minister of Welfare Yaakov Margi announced in the Knesset plenum that the camps of 'Wings of Krambo' will take place and their budget will even increase.
In addition, the minister promised in the plenary that in the 2023-2024 budget, the youth movements for children with disabilities will receive an even higher budget significantly. At the same time, "Wings of Karambo" stated that unfortunately, contrary to the publications, a solution has not yet been found that will allow the summer camp to be held this year.
"Wings of Karambo is in close and ongoing contact with the Ministry of Social Affairs and those at its head, but a definite and clear budget for the summer camp and the ongoing activities of the movement has not yet been guaranteed," it was said at the time. "Krembo's winged children will be happy for the entire series that will enable the existence of the activity that is a home for them and an opportunity for a social life."
In the time that passed, as mentioned, the movement was happy to inform that the camp is expected to take place, thanks to private companies, who will budget for the event.
Talia Harel Bejarno, CEO of 'Kenpaim of Karambo':
"This is very happy news for the thousands of movement activists and their families, who are waiting for the summer camp as an accessible and suitable vacation for them. We are excited and thank Discount Bank for the exciting commitment that will make it possible to hold the summer camp, as well as for all the companies that mobilized and those who accompany us in our current activities."
However, Harel Bjarno added: "It is important to emphasize that, unfortunately, the permanent and stable state support for 'Wings of Krambo' has not been arranged. Without full support, we will not be able to continue the activities of the movement's branches after the camp and have to close branches. Now it is the state's turn to stand behind 'Wings of Krambo' and guarantee its support with budgets and not just with words, in order to remove the cloud of closing the branches once and for all," she concluded.
A great opportunity for other people who want to help and not put bills in their pockets