The NADI kids, both older and younger groups, practiced taking responsibility. One of their first activities, before the school year began, was to cook special pot of soup for a woman in the village who had given birth.
Another project, taken together with their parents, involved creating signs for the weekly protests against the war and for returning hostages. In making signs calling for peace or drawing giant yellow ribbons, the children had an opportunity to learn about the drive behind the protests, to ask questions and to take part in the activism that is working for a different future. Later in the year, they had a clean-up day, picking up trash and improving their environment.
Yohai joined the NADI staff in the beginning of the year, and he ensures the atmosphere is fun and friendly during the twice-weekly afternoons when the NADI clubroom is open. This is an opportunity for the kids to play ping-pong and pool, to engage in art projects, or just to hang out together. At the beginning of the year, the kids sat together with him and each wrote their requests for activities and expectations for the year.
Grapes, olives and sushi
Food is an important part of the NADI experience. During olive-picking season, the children preserved the olives they had picked. Sushi turns out to be a favorite, especially when the children had a sushi-rolling lesson and then got to eat the results of their labor. In January, Yohai led them in another sushi-rolling session.
Grapes, like olives, are an important part of some cultures, including that of the Latrun abbey next door. The older children went to the abbey to help them pick their wine grapes. In return, they had a tour of the abbey, including the winery, and a finished with a special lunch.
Of course, the NADI is not all work and no play. The kids had trips to a water park and an amusement park over the summer, and the older and younger children’s groups each had an outing to the movies. In the winter, the younger kids had a forest outing, complete with a campfire and toasted marshmallows.
Some of the children began a drawing course taught by an 11th grader. Some of the high school children undertake volunteer work for credit, and the NADI is a great place to volunteer.
Holidays: The children took responsibility, together with the Spiritual Center, for the HannuChristmas holiday, to which the entire village was invited. To help celebrate, they built Hannukah menorah from fallen wood. In addition, they walked to the Latrun abbey to wish the monks a happy holiday and ask their blessing for a good year.
Youth leadership
Nur Najjar Elhuda, the NADI coordinator, was invited to participate in the GNRC, Arigato course for youth leaders. This was an enriching experience that will translate to an enhanced leadership program, more collaboration and contact with other groups and ideas for programs and activities.
