The Jewish Agency, with funding from the Israel Emergency Fund of the United Jewish Communities, is taking the entire population of 8,000 children ages 6 to 17 who live in the Sderot area out of the range of attack and letting kids do what they like best. From amusement parks to nature reserves, from water parks to concerts, and from touring the country to enjoying recreation with friends, kids from Sderot are having a great summer. (More about the program's funding.)

But why not hear it from them? Come back to this blog frequently to check out blog entries from different camps thoughout the summer.

The first month of summer camps for children in the Gaza perimeter communities and the South concluded this week. Over 10,000 campers participated in the camps, which were supported by the Jewish Agency and Jewish communities throughout the world.

In the Afikef camp the campers, both boys and girls, spent the last day playing ballgames, making chains and joggling. At the close of the day, farewell ceremonies took place for each group with their own personal counselor, followed by a formal ending for all campers in the large hall. 

It was my great privilege to inform all the readers of this blog about the astounding activity that the Jewish Agency made available to the children of Sderot and the Gaza perimeter, to witness the joy in the children’s eyes, the creative spirit of the staff and the intense pride exhibited by all the visitors who arrived at the camps and received warm thanks and greetings from the children. 

It is hard be the voice of all the children - over 10,000 of them - but in their name, I wish to thank the federations for all their fund-raising efforts as well as  donors throughout the world. Thanks to them, the Jewish Agency succeeded in operating successful summer camps for the children of Sderot and Gaza Perimeter communities.

This blog entry was written by Ofer Baram, JAFI Director of Community Relations, Israel Southern Region.