Beterem activities during Iron Swords
Established in 1995, Beterem – Safe Kids Israel is Israel’s first and only organization dedicated to children’s safety. Through multidisciplinary efforts, we have achieved a remarkable 58% decrease in injuries and mortality among children due to domestic accidents in the last 20 years. Our approach encompasses community intervention programs, alongside professional training initiatives to equip parents, educators and health personnel with safety-related knowledge. Beterem engages in research, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns advises policymakers and actively participates in governmental child safety programs.
While Israeli society is rightfully prepared to bear substantial costs to protect every child from enemy missiles, it is now confronted with preventable losses on the home front. The war forced many families to relocate to new and unfamiliar surroundings, often far from their homes. This situation introduces new challenges and risks, including an environment unsuitable and unsafe for children, exposing them to unprecedented dangers. Furthermore, the stress experienced by parents, acknowledged in literature as a significant contributor to elevated child mortality and accidents, must be taken into account. A recent heartbreaking incident involves a five-year-old survivor of the rocket attack in Ashkelon; seeking refuge in a Tel Aviv hotel with his family, he tragically drowned in the hotel’s pool.
In response to current challenges, we are operating a comprehensive set of programs, for which we are kindly seeking your support:
- “Boby the Sock Puppet” Program – Supporting toddlers in developing safety habits at home. The program is operated in 10 kindergartens serving evacuated children.
- “Walk Safely” Program – Most of the evacuees come from rural communities and are now situated at urban communities; they are not used to urban traffic, which had already led to tragedies. We have developed a teacher’s set game and app designed to educate parents and children on safe road practices. Aimed at grades 2-3, it includes a teacher’s empowerment lesson, an educational board game, a mobile app, and a gift board game.
- Child Safety seminars at the evacuation centers – Activities include informative sessions and interactive programs integrating storytelling, games, and creativity, led by organization staff running three hours daily in five evacuation centers.
To donate through PEF https://bit.ly/3UDk6Tm
To donate through Case Match https://bit.ly/4bj14qC
