Kisharon threw open its doors to a delegation of Israeli
professionals involved in the care and education of learning
disabled youngsters last month.
Initiated within the Haifa-Hackney (London) twinning
framework by Councilor Joseph Lobenstein of the Hackney
Local Authority and designed to encourage the spread of best
practice, Kisharon welcomed five senior staff members from
the Haifa Center for Children with Learning Disabilities.
The group visited a range of special educational facilities
serving the Orthodox Jewish community in London, including
Binoh, Side by Side and Schonfeld Square. Their 10 day trip,
coordinated by Jacalyn Sank, Kisharon's Developments
Manager, and her Haifa counterpart Laya Zryl, culminated in
the opportunity to experience for themselves Kisharon's
newest and most ambitious venture: Montfort House.
This 2.2 million British pound center, which breaks new
ground in its provision for learning disabled adults,
includes vocational training workshops linked into a
Business Enterprise Scheme that offers qualified workers a
seamless transition into the world of work.
"We benefited greatly from sharing our common goal: to help
those with special needs," said the Haifa Center's Education
Director, Penina Berkowitz. "We are going home with many new
ideas and look forward to a reciprocal visit to our Center
in Haifa."
