A multi-sensory science garden was inaugurated in the Jordan River Village, an overnight camp for children with serious illnesses. The new garden, established with the support of JNF Australia, includes a range of facilities that stimulate all the senses, including imagination and thought. The science park’s inauguration ceremony was one of the highlights of the JNF Australia representatives’ visit to Israel.
Jordan River Village is a holiday camp for children with chronic illnesses, life-threatening diseases, disabilities and special needs. The village provides the children and their families with unforgettable fun experiences- that are medically safe. Activities range between sports, horse-riding, swimming, music, arts & crafts workshops, performances, social activities and more.
Among the participants in the ceremony were KKL-JNF Land Development Authority Director Yaron Ohiyon, KKL-JNF Northern Region Director Dr. Omri Boneh, JNF Australia CEO Dan Springer, JNF Victoria President Ronit Fraid, Lower Galilee Regional Council Chairman Motti Dotan, Jordan River Village Chairman Haim Topol and Yuval Halamish, the Jordan River Village CEO.
The JNF Australia delegation toured the village and viewed a movie made about it. Ten-year-old Adam, a boy with cerebral palsy, said, "I always feel different, not like one of the normal kids. At the Jordan River Village I can just relax and have fun.”
Noa, who has chronic renal disease, added: "We get attention here that we don’t get anywhere else. Being in the village is an experience that really changed my life and helped me understand that I shouldn’t be ashamed of who I am."
Adam, Noa and thousands of other children will now be able to enjoy the unique facilities and playground mechanics that have as yet never been seen in Israeli parks, such as: bicycles that power a light fixture, centrifuges for various materials, a gravitation track for balls, a variety of sound and music mechanisms and many other fun and educational activities.
Jordan River Village is one of 16 villages around the world belonging to the international organization SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded by actor Paul Newman. World renowned Israeli actor Haim Topol serves as the organization's chairperson in Israel. "The new playground will bring many hours of enjoyment to our children, and for this I thank our friends from Australia," said Topol.
Dan Springer, CEO of JNF Australia, attended the ceremony with several family members – his wife and two boys. "It is very exciting for me to return here and see the place through the eyes of my children," said Springer. "It is a wonderful thing that children with serious illnesses can put aside the difficulties they constantly face for a moment and just have fun, like ordinary children."
Architect Hanna Yaffe, who had previously worked at the KKL-JNF’s northern planning department, designed the science garden on a voluntary basis. She told the audience that her personal experience with cancer a few years ago brought her closer to the Jordan River Village. "When I’ll see the children playing here, I’ll draw great strength from them”, she said with emotion in her voice.
"There is no greater satisfaction than giving everything you possibly can to a place such as this village," said Yaron Ohiyon, Land Development Authority Director at KKL-JNF. Ohiyon wished the many volunteers, who make this possible, that they "have a lot of strength to continue their wonderful work."
The ceremony was hosted by Andy Michelson, KKL-JNF’s Chief of Protocol. At the end of the event, in recognition of their contribution, the village's CEO Yuval Halamish presented a framed photo collage of the village to all those who made it possible to build the new science garden.
The pouring rain did not deter the people in attendance, who set out to plant a tree in the well-tended garden surrounding the multi-sensory park. Some of the adults couldn’t contain themselves - they put aside the umbrellas for a moment and tried out the various game facilities. Anyone seeing the grown-ups play and enjoy themselves among the raindrops could easily imagine how happy the children will be playing in the garden.