Boston-Sderot Summer Camp 2011
In 2000, hundreds of Kassam rockets, launched by Hamas and other terrorist organizations, began to fall on a daily basis in Sderot, Israel causing the Sderot children to develop serious mental disorders, lowering education standards and depriving the kids of their childhood.
In response to this tragedy, the Russian Jewish community came together and began a project that would take the kids from Sderot for 10 days in the summer and let them simply be kids. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the community, we have, with great success, been running a summer camp and a year-round community center for the past 4 years. Counselors from the Russian/American Boston Community travel to the camp to simply show the kids that they are undeniably loved - something they often forget.
This project not only gives the kids a chance to escape from Sderot, but bridges the gap between our countries, between our people, and between our generations.
Children of Sderot Summer Camp 2011 FAQ
History of Children of Sderot Summer Camp:
In 2007, the RJCF and the Russian Jewish Community brought 20 children from the embattled city of Sderot, Israel, to Boston for a safe summer. 10 of the children attended Camp Sunapee in New Hampshire, and the other 10 went to Shaloh House Camp Gan Israel in Boston. The following summer the RJCF raised enough money for a summer camp in the Golan Heights for 50 children of Sderot. Camps in 2009 and 2010 were incredibly successful and we hope to accomplish even more this year.
Please visit the Sderot Journal for current news and news from previous years.
Where will the Children of Sderot Summer Camp take place?
Children of Sderot Summer Camp will take place for 10 days on the picturesque hills on the outskirts of Jerusalem, facilitated with cabin houses, a dining room, and rolling acres of land for outdoor activities. The children will swim in a swimming pool in a nearby kibbutz.
Please visit the blog to see videos and pictures from Sderot Summer Camp 2010.
How many children will attend Children of Sderot Summer Camp 2011?
There will be 50 children at the camp this year.
How much money is needed to make Children of Sderot Summer Camp a reality?
$65,000 is needed to pay for the Camp of Sderot Summer Camp 2011. Your donation is needed!
Who pays for the Children of Sderot Summer Camps?
This camp is run entirely on donations. Members of the Boston community have donated the funds for all of the Children of Sderot Summer Camps.
Who are the counselors of Children of Sderot Summer Camp?
As every year, the counselors of the camp will be young men and women from the Russian Jewish Community. Some of them are graduates of the Russian School of Mathematics, some are just members of the community who are determined to help the kids of Sderot. There are 13 counselors who wish to volunteer at the camp this summer. Two of them are already in Israel; one serving in the army, and one studying at university, the rest will be traveling from the Boston area.
“These kids have had everything taken away from them; homes, family members, a solid education. We need to show them that we haven’t given up hope and everyone deserves to be a part of it.”
Alina Sapozhnikova-Counselor from Sderot Summer Camp 2010
“Sending money to create programs in Sderot is fantastic, but sponsoring projects to take them out of Sderot and give them some moments of peace, of making friends, and of learning things they had never thought of learning about is just incredible!!! I just want to say thank you, from the very, very bottom of my heart, for making this project possible. We need to, as a community, make sure to keep this project up and running for many, many years to come! You had to see it to believe how much of a change this made in their lives and how grateful they were for the experience.”
Anna Kamenetsky-Counselor from Sderot Winter Camp 2008
“This camp has changed lives. Two weeks is not a long time, but we accomplished something. Our community is helping build another one across the ocean. We have a lot to be proud of, but we cannot stop now.”
Masha Bresner-Counselor from Sderot Summer Camp 2008
If you have any questions or comments about the project please contact us at bostonsderot@rjcf.com.