| For some people, the month of May means that Shavuot is around the corner. For others, it marks the approach of summer vacation. But for hundreds of children around the country, May is a red-letter month for an entirely different reason. Every year, during this month, the special needs children from Ezer Mizion's Beit Channa Activity Clubs in Bnei Brak, Modi'in Ilit, Jerusalem, Ohr Yehuda and Netivot have a trip to "My Dream House" Amusement Park - the paradise for all children.
"My Dream House" is a water park and indoor activity center for young children, located in picturesque Givat Brenner. The children's empire at "My Dream House" offers a train ride through the fields, inflatable trampolines, water slides, a nine meter waterfall, air-conditioned indoor game rooms, and one of the largest and most elaborate gymboree halls in the world.
In addition, there is the colorful, safe outdoor equipment - riding toys, monkey bars, jungle gyms, spiral slides and more. Most of the rich array of attractions are appropriate for handicapped children, and enable every child to have fun - regardless of his impairment. This is why Ezer Mizion comes back year after year.
And what a time they had! Children with varied challenges - hyperactive fireballs, wheelchair restricted, mentally disabled, autistic - all found it to be the most amazingly fun experience. The hardest kids, those you can hardly ever see with a smile, even PDD children who are chronically emotionally detached, walked around with the widest grin. Here they felt on top of the world!
For many of these children, water play is a taste of heaven. Most of the year, they are scolded: don't mess around with the water, turn off that faucet! But on this dream day they have at their disposal water flumes, sprinklers, even a bucket to topple over their heads from a tall pole. The sheer pleasure was written all over.
This year, more than 300 children participated in the trip, accompanied by an equal number of volunteer counselors. Each of the "shadow" volunteers cared for her charge devotedly, looked after their safety - and above all, made sure their enjoyment was complete!
It wasn't easy. The devoted volunteers help the dripping children out of their wet clothing, dressed them, and lovingly brushed their tangled hair. Then, after the children worked up a healthy appetite in the water, they assisted them in eating the neatly packed lunches - also provided by Ezer Mizion, of course!
Finally, after a long, tiring day, the indefatigable volunteers returned their charges to their homes, exhilarated, satisfied - and eagerly looking forward to the month of May in a year from now!
Special thanks to Mrs. Ellie Korenblum from Toronto for her part in sponsoring this trip to honour the bar mitzvah of her nephew, David Yanofsky. |
