"In Ezer Mizion's camps, children who have no friends and no social life are surrounded by friends in a structured atmosphere. The children enjoy activities that they would never be able to do otherwise."
Mrs. W, mother of two children with Down's Syndrome In 1988, Ezer Mizion opened Israel's first summer camp for children with special needs. Since then, the network of Ezer Mizion special needs summer camps has grown to include 7 camps, over 1,500 staff members and volunteers and over 1,200 children with physical handicaps, brain damage, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, autism, blindness, deafness and emotional disorders. For these youngsters and their families, Ezer Mizion's summer camps are the highlight of the entire year.
The camps, called "B'Lev Sameach" - literally, "With a Happy Heart" - have a full schedule of exciting activities, outings and recreation from morning to night, with all meals and transportation included. The children enjoy live entertainment, trips to amusement parks, zoos, and beaches, and visits to the Kotel and other special places. All of the children are paired with individual counselors who shower them with one-on-one attention, care, and love.
Families of children with special needs also benefit greatly from the B'Lev Sameach summer camps. The camps operate when all other educational frameworks are closed to these children, who can be difficult to maintain at home. Caring for physically or mentally challenged children is often very taxing, and parents and siblings are grateful for the respite provided by the B'Lev Sameach camps. The camps allow parents to devote time to their other children and to themselves, making this a period of relaxation, rejuvenation and renewal for the entire family.
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