The story of Shikmim
Background
Shikmim" was founded in 1982 as a registered non-profit organization, near Rehovot in Israel. Since then, it had been providing educational, vocational and residential services to young adults diagnosed with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
The founders and main supporters are the Almog family, whose 44-year-old son Uri was born with a developmental disability and is one of the residents of "Shikmim House". The efforts of the founding parents have profoundly impacted and contributed to the development of unique service delivery systems for persons with disabilities in Israel. Over the years, "Shikmim" has excelled at providing support services and is therefore recognized and funded by the Ministry of Social Services.
Background
Shikmim" was founded in 1982 as a registered non-profit organization, near Rehovot in Israel. Since then, it had been providing educational, vocational and residential services to young adults diagnosed with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
The founders and main supporters are the Almog family, whose 44-year-old son Uri was born with a developmental disability and is one of the residents of "Shikmim House". The efforts of the founding parents have profoundly impacted and contributed to the development of unique service delivery systems for persons with disabilities in Israel. Over the years, "Shikmim" has excelled at providing support services and is therefore recognized and funded by the Ministry of Social Services.
The House of Shikmim
"Shikmim House" is the successor framework of the “Shikmim School" and serves as a continuing framework for the graduates of the school as they leave the structured special education environment (legally in Israel after age 21) and manage their daily lives in the community.
Living in an urban environment, which is strongly encouraged by professional bodies of the Israeli Ministry of Social Services, has given "Shikmim" residents the experience of living and working within the community and cultivating a feeling of self-worth and contribution to society. The general community is accepting and welcoming towards the “Shikmim” residents.
In the summer 2016, after years of planning and fundraising, we completed the process of purchasing land and building the "Shikmim House for Life". We received government funding for this project, as well as many generous donations that enabled our vision to come to life. The house is planned for 18 permanent residents, who live in shared bedrooms (two people in each room) with an attached bathroom to each bedroom. There is a beautiful yard surrounding the house, an indoor gym, a computer room, an activity hall, a spacious dining and living room area and staff offices. Pictures and details of the house can be found on our website.
The house is centrally located in the quiet town of Ness Ziona, on a property owned solely by the Shikmim This house provides a permanent home for our residents, promising them stability throughout their lifetime, and giving their (now aging) parents the peace of knowing that they will be well taken care of, in a familiar and loving environment, even after their parents are no longer able to take care of them.
Satellite apartment
In 2018, we rented an additional house in the same neighborhood as the Shikmim House, which is referred to as a "satellite apartment" of the main house. In this house, there is room for 6 residents who are capable of more independent living than the residents of the main house.
They are able to spend time on their own, shop for food, prepare light meals, do household chores, use public transportation independently and more. They are also looked after by the staff of the main house (in accordance to their needs), receive nutritious home-cooked meals, and join the residents for work and for various activities. In this manner, they have the opportunity to practice their independent skills, while remaining socially and emotionally connected to the group and family of Shikmim and being in daily contact with the staff and caretakers.
The Shikmim sponsored occupational workshop
In the peaceful setting of the village of Beit Oved near Ness Ziona, on a plot of land donated for this purpose by the Almog-Allergand family, is the occupational workshop of Shikmim. It is surrounded by pecan trees and provides a variety of occupations for its participants, according to their different abilities. Shikmim workshop is recognized and funded by the Israel Ministry of Social Services.
Most of our residents are employed at the "Shikmim" sponsored workshop, in addition to a few additional participants who live in the area. Their work includes:
- Collecting, peeling, sorting and weighing pecan nuts for sale to wholesale customers.
- Assembling parts for irrigation systems, medical equipment, greenhouse materials and metalworking.
- Working in a greenhouse that grows houseplants for sale.
- Some of the residents work at the adjacent Ha'Nahala Banquet Garden, also owned and operated by the founding family. They attend to kitchen duties and set up guests' tables.
- Working in a hydroponic greenhouse growing lettuce and herbs.
Daily life and additional activities
A rich and varied afternoon and evening schedule invites the residents to take part in a myriad of activities such as various therapies, sports, computer lessons, arts and crafts, physical exercise, a weekly music session with a pianist, karaoke evenings and more. Every week the residents, together with their group leaders, embark on a local outing of their choice. Once a week the residents hold a facilitated meeting in which they discuss social issues that concern the group.
Group nature trips to different locations in Israel are an important part of our life. Through those outings, our residents get to know their near and far surroundings, experience different natural views and diverse communities of their country, and spend time in nature.
Once a year, usually in the spring, all the residents and staff go on an annual vacation in Eilat for 5 days. For many of the residents this is the highlight of their year and they look forward to it.
Shikmim during Covid-19 pandemic
The Covid period was a big challenge into the unknown for us. During the first lockdown, Shikmim's manager, Dov Shpilman, decided to stop all activities that were being operated and instructed by external staff, in order to keep our residents as safe and protected as possible. This turned out to be a decision that birthed very creative outcomes. Dov started a weekly ballroom dancing class for the residents, the staff and the residents turned the activity room into a coffee shop with singing, staff members took small groups of residents to walks around the neighborhood and more.
During the first months of Covid, Shikmin house went into quarantine after a few members of the staff tested positive. The other staff members made extra efforts and worked many hours, in order to stay with the residents at all times and keep their daily lives safe and familiar. Work was brought into the residence to help them maintain their daily schedule and our satellite apartment served as a second quarantine location for a few residents that also tested positive. We are very grateful that everyone recovered fully, and we are back to our normal routine.
Supporting us
You can support our activity by purchasing small plants that are grown at the Shikmim occupational workshop, and pecan nuts (in season). Please see the relevant page on the Hebrew website, or contact Mor at 054-6149204.
In addition, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of life of our residents and provide them with the best possible care. Currently, there are several projects that we are hoping to complete in the near future, please contact us if you are willing to make a donation and support us: shikmim.office@gmail.com
Any contribution will be greatly appreciated!
Contact Us:
For purchasing plants and pecans from our workshop, please contact Mor at : 054-6149204.
To volunteer, make a donation and any other purpose, please contact Hilla at shikmim.office@gmail.com
