(haipo) As part of the national project "Changing the Rules of the Game," on Monday (7/9/26), approximately 35 teenage boys and girls from Haifa gathered at the Marine Sports Center in the Bat Galim neighborhood for a discussion and sports activity on the topic of dealing with bullying, boycotts, and violence on social media, with the participation of Maccabi Haifa football coach Barak Bachar and Sports Channel presenter Sharon Perry.
A national initiative in collaboration with education and sports authorities
The start of the school year often brings with it complex social challenges among youth. The national week of activity "Changing the Rules of the Game" was initiated by the RGE media group together with the "Harav Techumi Amal" network, the Histadrut and the "Five Fingers" movement, in cooperation with the Haifa Municipality.
The meeting, which took place at the Water Sports Center, was attended by approximately 35 students from formal and informal educational institutions in the city, including classes, Urban H, Urban A, the Municipal Youth Council, the Scouts Movement, the Hadar Youth Center, the Shalva Youth Center, and the Beit Yatziv Youth Center. The event combined sports and challenging activities conducted by instructors from the "Five Fingers" movement, alongside an open dialogue with Bachar and Perry, with the aim of translating the values of the world of sports: teamwork, dealing with crises, mental resilience, and mutual responsibility, into practical tools for dealing with violence, bullying, and boycotts.
Maccabi Haifa coach: "You need to take a breath and think before you speak"
Maccabi Haifa football coach Barak Bachar addressed the youth and said: "There is a leader in everyone. You don't have to be born a leader, you can acquire the skills along the way. Remember to take responsibility. It is important to convey calmness and not just say what you think. Many times, even on the field, we act on emotions, from feeling. You need to take a breath and think before you speak. The easiest thing is to 'shoot in all directions' and then regret it. You are allowed to say what you think, but in the right way and with the right attitude."
Sharon Perry shared a personal experience: "You need someone to see you"
Sports Channel presenter Sharon Perry She shared with the youth her personal experience as a student. "As a child, I always felt very out of place, I never felt part of a group. I never fit in, I was kicked out of the scouts and boycotted at school. In the end, you need someone to see you. One person who believes in you and sees you and the good things in you," said Perry.
She added in a message to the youth: "Those who are going through a boycott, don't be left alone with it. You will always find that one person who will listen to you. A friend or a girlfriend, a mother or father, an uncle or an aunt. It's a terrible loneliness. And for those who are on the offending side, think about what you would do, how it feels to be in the shoes of the one who was offended. I hope this will help you feel a little compassion."
The chairwoman of the municipal youth council presented the "Friend Help" project
Chairperson of the Municipal Youth Council, Tamar Tendler-Sagi, spoke at the event about a unique project initiated by the Haifa Municipal Youth Council over the past two years together with the psychological service, called "Friend Help." The goal of the project is to provide tools for providing initial psychological help to teenagers who are experiencing boycotts or need psychological support. "When a teenager experiences boycotts or bullying, the most important thing for him is to know that he has a support system. It can be even one person who supports him and gives him a safe place, and that already makes a difference," said Tendler-Sagi.
She added: "The project we initiated is intended, among other things, to change the discourse in schools and settings regarding mental health and bullying, and to create a safe space for students with each other. We at the Municipal Youth Council will continue to work with the goal of creating an inclusive and respectful discourse within the settings and among the youth in the city."
"Bullying and boycotts are not a children's thing"
The Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, He said: "Bullying, boycotts and online violence are not 'children's issues' - they are phenomena that have profound implications for the lives of children and teenagers, and therefore I have demanded and I continue to demand that the principals of educational institutions be personally informed about the boycott of each student." Yahav added that "through the world of sports, which teaches us teamwork, perseverance, responsibility and mutual respect, we can give them tools to cope, but mainly remind them that each and every one of us has the power to influence their environment."
"The power of a personal story can open hearts"
Head of the Education, Culture and Sports Administration in the Haifa Municipality, Ilana Truk, She said: "This meeting proved how much the power of a personal story, alongside a shared experience and sporting activity, can open hearts and create change. I am proud of the young men and women from Haifa who came, shared, listened and, most importantly, proved that it is possible to choose to be on the side that strengthens, encourages and includes. We will continue to create such opportunities for them throughout the year."
