Beit HaTzeirim – The Children's House
What is the Beit HaTzeirim?
Beit HaTzeirim is an afternoon center for children (grades 4-6) in the Haifa neighborhood of Hadar. It was founded in the early 2000s as a way to meet a need of the neighborhood. Many of the children in the neighborhood come from working families, and they need activities and supervision after school. Beit HaTzeirim opens its doors 4 days a week just a bit after school ends, and sends the children home in time for dinner.
Beit HaTzeirim is a home away from home for many children in Hadar, and makes a point to give them a space to be a kid and to imagine, when often they have little space to do so at home. When children arrive each day, they are offered a warm meal, as well as help with homework and many games. There are counselors for each grade, and there are different activities each day, whether that means judo lessons, a treasure hunt with their group, painting a mural in the neighborhood, or just free time to play cards. At the end of the day, counselors will walk the children home to make sure they arrive safely.
What will you do at the Beit HaTzeirim?
For those working at Beit HaTzeirim, partners will be in charge of specific activities on specific days, like leading an interest group, or being in charge of the meal once a week. They will each be assigned to a group of kids and will join the staff for that group. They will run activities with the rest of their staff, help children with homework, help pick them up from school and walk them home at the end of the day. Through planning and running activities for the children at Beit HaTzeirim, these participants will become a crucial part of the center, both connecting with and taking responsibility for the children, and also being an integral part of the staff.
While Beit HaTzeirim is only open in the afternoon and evenings, there will be lots to do in the morning. Participants will be in charge of making sure supplies are in order for activities and making sure a warm meal is ready for when the children arrive. In addition, they will be a part of staff meetings once or twice a week in the mornings, as well a short meeting at the end of each day. During this time, the participants will have the opportunity to gain tools necessary for work with children, as well as time for feedback and learning between activities. This meetings will help bring the participants into the staff of Beit HaTzeirim.
A message from the staff about their experience:
"Beit HaTzeirim is always very busy for two reasons. The first reason is that kids always have so much energy and always want to do something new and exciting. The second reason is because we want to bring as many activities as possible to the children here. It's important that there is always something new to do and that our kids here have the opportunity to learn and to act. We make a point to be involved in the neighborhood, whether that means the children decide what they have to say about the neighborhood and what should happen, or whether that means they run activities for children even younger than them. We help these kids feel like they belong and through that grow their sense of responsibility for their community. We are so excited for you to be a part of that with us as well!"
What is the Beit HaTzeirim?
Beit HaTzeirim is an afternoon center for children (grades 4-6) in the Haifa neighborhood of Hadar. It was founded in the early 2000s as a way to meet a need of the neighborhood. Many of the children in the neighborhood come from working families, and they need activities and supervision after school. Beit HaTzeirim opens its doors 4 days a week just a bit after school ends, and sends the children home in time for dinner.
Beit HaTzeirim is a home away from home for many children in Hadar, and makes a point to give them a space to be a kid and to imagine, when often they have little space to do so at home. When children arrive each day, they are offered a warm meal, as well as help with homework and many games. There are counselors for each grade, and there are different activities each day, whether that means judo lessons, a treasure hunt with their group, painting a mural in the neighborhood, or just free time to play cards. At the end of the day, counselors will walk the children home to make sure they arrive safely.
What will you do at the Beit HaTzeirim?
For those working at Beit HaTzeirim, partners will be in charge of specific activities on specific days, like leading an interest group, or being in charge of the meal once a week. They will each be assigned to a group of kids and will join the staff for that group. They will run activities with the rest of their staff, help children with homework, help pick them up from school and walk them home at the end of the day. Through planning and running activities for the children at Beit HaTzeirim, these participants will become a crucial part of the center, both connecting with and taking responsibility for the children, and also being an integral part of the staff.
While Beit HaTzeirim is only open in the afternoon and evenings, there will be lots to do in the morning. Participants will be in charge of making sure supplies are in order for activities and making sure a warm meal is ready for when the children arrive. In addition, they will be a part of staff meetings once or twice a week in the mornings, as well a short meeting at the end of each day. During this time, the participants will have the opportunity to gain tools necessary for work with children, as well as time for feedback and learning between activities. This meetings will help bring the participants into the staff of Beit HaTzeirim.
A message from the staff about their experience:
"Beit HaTzeirim is always very busy for two reasons. The first reason is that kids always have so much energy and always want to do something new and exciting. The second reason is because we want to bring as many activities as possible to the children here. It's important that there is always something new to do and that our kids here have the opportunity to learn and to act. We make a point to be involved in the neighborhood, whether that means the children decide what they have to say about the neighborhood and what should happen, or whether that means they run activities for children even younger than them. We help these kids feel like they belong and through that grow their sense of responsibility for their community. We are so excited for you to be a part of that with us as well!"