A. BACKGROUND Kfar Daroms school was established following an Israeli government decision in 5760 (2000) – issued in direct response to a murderous terrorist attack on a busload of children on their way to attend classes in adjacent Atzmona. In this attack, two teachers were killed and tens of children were injured. A staff of teachers and a principal were mustered and drafted for the task literally overnight, and the next day the new Kfar Darom school began to function. After the evacuation from Kfar Darom, this same school was transfered to Ashkelon for a period of 5 years. About two years ago, the Kfar Darom community moved to its permanent settlement, Shavei Darom, in the western Negev, and the school moved with them. The school includes grades one through eight. TARGET POPULATION Upon moving to the Negev, the school opened its doors for children from the entire surrounding region and many such families, who sought a quality education for their children, also sent their children to the school. Presently, the school has 150 students and these numbers are constantly rising. THE SCHOOLS BUDGET (2011) The budget divided into teaching hours for teachers salaries, primarily paid by the Ministry of Education. The sum of the budget: in the vicinity of 1,550,000 NIS (out of which 1,100,000 NIS is covered by the Education Ministry, but not transferred to the school, because it is utilized to directly pay teachers salaries). The remaining budget, at a sum of 450,000 NIS is managed by the Amuta (non-profit organization) of the parents. FUNDING **Allocation from the local municipality – 100,000 NIS **Donations - 100,000 NIS (a charity fund, a business company and small private donators) **Tuition payments from parents – 215,000 NIS We finished the fiscal year of 2011 with a deficit. In 2013 the expenses grew, also due to the security situation which we experienced during Operation Pillar of Cloud in Gaza that entailed extra activities with the students. B- THE PROBLEM AND THE NEED The abovementioned sums, barely serve to finance ongoing operation and maintenance of the school. The schools building doesnt include the standard functions of a large school and thats why it doesnt have a playground or a yard wherein the children can play ball and outdoor games and vent their pent-up energy during recesses. Likewise, unfortunately, we do not have the financial capability to fund any extra-curricular activities such as cultural enrichment and trauma-coping therapy programs for students, which are needed in light of the security situation, as well as outings, hikes and fun-days. We deem it important to stress that the trauma the kids of Kfar Darom underwent was threefold. While still living in Kfar Darom, our security situation was precarious. Afterwards, we experienced the trauma of the evacuation that still accompanies some of the children until now. But even today, the school is within firing range of Kassam rockets from Gaza and this serves to reawaken the fears and traumas they experienced in the past. Worthy of note is the fact that our school building has no security protection whatsoever, leaving it vulnerable and defenseless during a missile attack. Notwithstanding, our ongoing needs dont result necessarily from the security aspect, but rather from the needs of its everyday, routine function. C- THE IMMEDIATE NECESSITIES 1. A play yard for sports and ball games – 300,000 NIS 2. Security protection – the cost of one protected classroom is 220,000 NIS (one large protected classroom can contain a large number of pupils when the siren is sounded) 3. Cultural activities and therapy – 100,000 NIS. D. THE REQUEST To extend assistance that would facilitate the obtainment of what we lack, with utmost priority for a sports-yard that the school desperately needs.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 10:15:21 +0000
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