Page 26 - C.A.L.L. #40 - Winter 2015

We target every segment of the population: Jews, Muslims, Christians, the
disabled and people with special needs.” The youth movements, of which the
Scouts is the largest, provide programming and volunteer manpower. “We also
utilize kids serving in Nahal and Shnat Sherut [pre-army service],” says Zuzut.
“In addition, we have six paid employees from the Educators’ Kibbutz. They run

four of the youth centers, serving 500 to 600 youth. They are the only
movement with whom we have this kind of relationship. “For me, the group is
really special. They’re fresh and refreshing. They don’t think conventionally.
They care about society; they want to contribute. And there’s continuity – if one
finishes, someone else can take their place.” Zuzut agrees that a permanent
kibbutz building will benefit the city. “We’ll concentrate all the start-up minds
together,” he says. “This could be the ‘Silicon Valley of education’ in the
community.” Directly behind the ornate Nouzha Mosque on Jerusalem Boulevard
in Jaffa are two school buildings – one Arab, one Jewish. One small room off the
shared courtyard houses all of NOAL’s activities in Jaffa. It is open during
school recess, for afterschool activities and during school holidays. Sharon Raz
is the school’s director of afterschool care. “It is very important that NOAL is
here,” she says. “The informal educational activities they run expose these kids

to more than what they get at home – and teach them about values and
relationships. There are real connections between the counselors and the
children. If someone has a problem, the counselors are there to provide an
answer, other than what the teachers give them.”

Soundos Daka, 17, has been in the movement for two years. She is planning to
continue after high school. “It’s not always easy to come here; there are always
other things to do,” she says. “But we simply love it. I’ve learned what it means
to be together, I’ve learned how to deal with children.” “The movement is a

world in itself. When I was in ninth grade, 1,500 of us kids went on a seminar in
the North. We slept in tents, had parties until 5 a.m. and we learned how to be
counselors.”“When we go into schools in our [blue] shirts, everyone knows who
we are and gets excited to see us,” says Omar Hamoudeh, 17. “Our goal is to
change society, end racism and educate children, to teach them patience and
strength.” His brother, 15-year-old Muhammad, is also in the movement. They
will both participate in a new project involving both the Tel Aviv and Jaffa
groups, in an effort to destroy boundaries and stigmas. And next year, for the
first time in Jaffa, five high school graduates will participate in national service
offered to Arab and religious youth. While living at home, they’ll work in schools
and run movement activities. “There are tons of kids who want to take part,”
says Dror Israel counselor Jonathan Kershenbaum, 22. “Some don’t know it’s
open to everybody.”“Counselors came to my school and explained what the

movement is,” says Mariana Jahan, 13. “I was convinced to try it out. I got to

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