Cavities and Kangaroos: Ashalim's Healthy Living and Nutrition Happening

Not even the threat of attack from Iraq could stop the 4,000 children and parents who attended Ashalim’s two-day Happening from having fun.

On April 6-7 2003, a sea of children armed with their gas masks filled the Gan Hashlosha Park in Israel’s Bet Shean Valley to attend Ashalim’s second annual nutrition and physical fitness event.

"Our primary goal was to strengthen the connection between parent and child, while simply having fun," explained Schuman, who oversees Ashalim's residential care programs for children at risk. "In fact," he added, "we achieved much, much more."

The event is part of Ashalim’s Healthy Living and Nutrition Enrichment project, which is funded by Professor Stanley Mills, Barbara Gorden-Green and family. Israeli and Arab-Israeli children ranging in age from preschool through third grade and coming from 16 kindergartens and schools in Acco, Netanya and Ramla participated in the first day. Children from over 23 day boarding facilities across Israel participated in the second day's activities.

"These families rarely – if ever – have the opportunity to participate in such an event," explained Schuman. "The majority of these children are at risk, some are impoverished and many come from very difficult homes," he explained.

Seventeen stands were scattered across the park offering fun, educational and interactive activities, such as petting zoo with koalas and kangaroos, a nutrition stand where children made pita in a taboon, a Pesach stand where children decorated their own Seder plate, as well as sports games, hiking excursions and activities that focus on history of Israel, pioneering Zionism and archeology.

A sandwich lunch was provided, and afterwards the children were entertained by a choir performance from children with special needs.

Schuman expressed the professionals' initial concerns: "Some of the social workers and counselors anticipated difficulty in having the children sit still for even a few minutes, since many of the children have learning disabilities and attention disorders. However," he added, "ultimately our greatest challenge was encouraging the kids to move on to another activity, they were having so much fun."

One of the Happening’s main themes was raising the awareness of good dental hygiene. A story of two bacteria was performed in both Hebrew and Arabic, bringing to life the importance of dental care. Books in Hebrew and Arabic that dealt with dental hygiene and posters with nutritional information were distributed to staff of kindergartens, and each child received toothpaste, water and sugarless sweets that were donated by companies such as Colgate.

Ashalim arranged the event together with the Institute for Educational Advancement, Sacta-Rashi and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.