Technoda for the Community

Afikim

Afikim (“Riverbeds”) is based on four pillars: responsibility, development, progress and science. The program aims to support the children of Hadera’s Givat Olga neighborhood by both meeting their basic needs and exposing them to science and technology. Held at Yavne School in Givat Olga, Afikim serves as a direct continuation of the school day and operates four days a week from when school lets out until 16:30.

Children in the program are given a hot meal and supported by a permanent team of counselors who work with them throughout the year. The counselors work according to a carefully-built plan that includes goals such as instilling social values, teaching interpersonal skills, supporting academic studies, bolstering self-confidence and a sense of capability, broadening general knowledge and more. 

Afikim participants benefit from a wide range of enrichment activities such as help with core curriculum subjects, theater classes and other extracurriculars, visits to Technoda’s rich scientific library, field trips, tours and more. In addition, they participate in science and technology classes customized especially for them.

Excellence in Science

Excellence in Science is a portal to the world of science and technology. This multi-year program provides children with a supportive framework that includes teaching, broadening horizons, enrichment and a hot lunch.

Being exposed to technology and acquiring scientific knowledge enriches children’s language, expands their horizons and can help mitigate negative phenomena. Excellence in Science serves 80 3rd-9th graders who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and live in Givat Olga. Students are nominated by faculty at the neighborhood’s major schools before being admitted to the program. These are outstanding students with high GPAs who did not successfully pass the admissions process for the gifted program.

Once a week, the students participate in exclusive activities that touch on different fields of knowledge such as robotics, cybersecurity, chemistry, medicine, astronomy, veterinary science and more. In addition, students in the program go on experiential educational field trips, participate in many different enjoyable events, and take part in national competitions.

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead is a social program that identifies children with high potential for success and makes sure they receive the tools needed to realize this success. The program is participated in by 1st-6th graders from all schools in Givat Olga. Participants are selected based on recommendations from teachers and on personal interviews with the program director. The admissions process is aimed at identifying high motivation to learn, improve, and achieve. The program’s teaching staff are experienced professionals who make use of special teaching methods such as anticipatory sets, games, simulations, personal tutoring, virtual learning environments, music and more.

The program takes place twice a week and includes a range of experiential social activities such as concerts, plays, museum visits and more.

We believe that education is at the heart of the matter - and with education, the sky is the limit.

Nitzanim

Nitzanim (“Buds”) is a supplementary educational-therapeutic early childhood framework held five times a week, from when the children get out of kindergarten until the evening hours. The program serves around 15 3-6-year-olds being raised by single parents who struggle to properly care for them - sometimes even endangering their physical or mental wellbeing.

Technoda serves as a safe, protective and stable space for these children, simulating a caring home and providing for their social, emotional, behavioral, educational and developmental needs. 

The program teaches basic habits such as healthy eating, respectful dialogue and avoiding verbal and physical violence. Nitzanim includes two classes: “Science Through Stories” teaches science through children’s stories and legends, and “Creative Lab” encourages emotional expression through working with different raw materials. Also offered are baking classes, sports and nutrition classes, a gardening class, parent-child activities, and story time.

The program is accompanied by a social worker from the welfare department who specializes in supporting families on welfare.

YACHAD - Kids With Ideas

The YACHAD program is for outstanding students of Ethiopian descent from schools throughout Hadera. 

The students in the program are 3rd-7th graders who are recommended by their homeroom teachers and school principals and undergo additional interviews by the program director and Technoda’s teaching staff.

Once a week, a bus waits after school to bring these select students to Technoda and drop them off at home in the evening after the activities are over. When they arrive at Technoda, the students receive a hot meal and participate in classes touching on various fields of knowledge - science, arts, computers and more. The classes teach research skills and give students hands-on science and technology experience while encouraging mathematical and logical thinking. Furthermore, the program facilitates social encounters with other students from the area, which encourages the children to develop their social skills and gives them more opportunities to form connections in a framework outside of their school.

The Sheba Choir

Sheba is an exciting choir established at Technoda for children from Givat Olga, led by acclaimed musician Gili Yalo. In the framework of the choir, children are exposed to a wide range of music and musical instruments, meet with different artists, practice singing and give occasional performances.

The choir is made up of two groups: The younger group meets once a week, and the older group meets twice a week.