‏Jerusalem, Jan. 4, 2009 -- The Authority for Community and Youth of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is contributing its part to assist the besieged residents in the south of the country by hosting young people from that area at the university.

 

Over the past several days, the Authority has welcomed some 100 eighth and ninth grade students from Ashkelon, Sderot and Netivot who are participating in the pre-Atidim program, which is designed to motivate and encourage middle and high school youngsters from the periphery to further their educational prospects. In many communities in the south of the country schools have been closed for the past week due to the continuing rocket attacks coming from Gaza.

 

During their stay in Jerusalem, the youngsters participated in science workshops at the Belmonte Science Laboratories for Youth on the Edmond J. Safra campus of the Hebrew University at Givat Ram. They also met with members of the Israel Scouts movement and students at the Hebrew University High School.

 

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to host these children from the Gaza periphery, giving them a few days respite from the shelling of their area and at the same time offering them quality scientific enrichment. The students were enthused about the program and even asked to come back again,” said Prof. Avishai Dekel, head of the Hebrew University’s Authority for Community and Youth.