Summer Camps For The Gaza Perimeter Communities

July 6, 2008 / 3 Tammuz 5768

The Jewish Agency has just commenced summer camp activity for the children of the Gaza perimeter communities.

"Today we began summer camps in Sderot and the Gaza perimeter.  The camps are intended for the children of Sderot and the children of the following local councils – Ashkelon Coast, Shaar Hanegev, Sedot Negev and Eshkol.

In the first stage the Jewish Agency is providing a three weeklong camp for children from grades 1-12.  Some of the camps are on wheels since every day we journey to someplace else.  Other camps are locally based, and take place in the community centers and in the kibbutzim and the campers depart the confines of the camp once or twice a week,” so writes the Jewish Agency representative from the Israel Region department.

In the photographs we see the camp for the religious population that is named AfiKef (literally Afi-fun because the nonprofit organization that operates here is called Afikim Banegev) while the camp at the community center is called Kiufit.

On the camps' opening day, 1520 children participated.

“We are militarily in a stage of calm so we are experiencing quiet and fun and hope that this situation continues” writes Ofer Baram, Director of Community Relations, Israel Southern Region.