Girls’ Empowerment Program Report
ITEC Ofakim
Prepared for the Jane, Rich, Leslie, & Mitch
About ITEC
Founded in 1976, the Israel Tennis & Education Centers has become one of Israel’s largest social service organizations, providing comprehensive social-emotional, athletic, and recreational programs and support services to youth from historically marginalized communities throughout the country.
Our centers, which span from Kiryat Shmona in the North to Beer Sheva in the South, serve 24 communities. They are open six days a week and welcome more than 10,000 youth annually, ranging in age from preschool to young adulthood. This includes the 1,600 youth we serve in our social-impact programs.
Our vision is a world where every Israeli child’s potential is not just realized but celebrated. We aspire to be the catalysts for positive change fostering lifelong skills, inclusivity, and excellence on and off the court.
Your support is changing lives—giving Israel’s children a sense of belonging, resilience, and hope for a better future. Thank you!
ITEC Ofakim Girls’ Empowerment, Program Overview
Participants: Twelve girls from Makif Amal School, many of whom suffer from post-traumatic stress due to the war, experience daily anxiety, sleep disturbances, and fear. They come from severely disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, with their families facing significant financial hardship, especially in the war’s aftermath.
Program Duration: The Makif Amal School students are in their third year of the program, the second group to graduate from the ITEC Ofakim Girls’ Empowerment Program.
Training & Activities: The girls walk to the tennis center twice a week as part of their school schedule.
Mondays - Tennis training with Coach Tohar and empowerment session with Einav Cohen Argaman, psychologist.
Wednesdays - Tennis training with Coach Tohar and yoga session with Coach Chen.
Special Workshops: Conducted by Einav, focusing on body image and self-esteem, raising awareness of healthy lifestyles and cooking
Director Letter
My name is Shuki Rajman, and since 2018, I have been serving as the Director of Education and Social Impact at the Israel Tennis & Education Centers. My role involves managing a dedicated team of 10 social impact coordinators stationed at our tennis centers, each responsible for leading and overseeing our programs.
These coordinators bring a strong educational background and extensive experience working with diverse populations. Their expertise is essential in engaging with various communities, and they operate with great sensitivity and professionalism to ensure the success of our programs. They maintain excellent relationships with the children, schools, and institutions from which the children come.
Our professional coaches and mentors incorporate tennis alongside diverse educational methodologies to equip children with critical life skills. Tennis is a unique sport that serves as a powerful medium for imparting essential values that every child needs.
Your donations enable us to reach children in need of social and emotional support, helping them grow and thrive in all aspects of life. Your generosity makes a profound difference in the lives of children from challenging backgrounds, giving them hope for a brighter future. Thanks to your contributions,
we are able to reach more children each year and instill a sense of optimism, especially in the wake of a year and a half of conflict in Israel.
Over the past year and a half, Israel has faced and continues to face significant challenges due to war. Many children in affected areas have experienced social and emotional difficulties, anxiety, and struggles in returning to a normal routine. Thanks to your support, our programs play a crucial role in helping these children rebuild their confidence and resilience during this challenging period.
The tennis court serves as a bridge for connection and empowerment, allowing children to find a shared language and develop lasting friendships. Many families of the children in our programs cannot afford extracurricular and enrichment activities. We work closely with local authorities to identify families most in need and offer them access to our programs.
The Girls’ Empowerment Program supports at-risk girls across 12 tennis centers nationwide, with a total of 165 participants. These girls come from diverse and challenging backgrounds and receive tennis training twice a week, in addition to empowerment sessions led by professional facilitators.
During these sessions, they engage in critical discussions on topics such as body image, setting boundaries, online safety, personal resilience, social skills, and overcoming challenges.
The personal stories shared by the girls about their experiences in the program are incredibly moving. They find joy in their otherwise difficult daily lives, build new friendships, and acquire valuable life skills. The program fosters a deep sense of belonging and helps them advance toward a brighter future—all while engaging in sports activities that
contribute to their well-being.
It is important for me to emphasize that your contributions are life-changing for many children. Thanks to your generosity, these children have the opportunity to experience the joys and benefits of childhood just like any other child in Israel.
The children, as well as our dedicated staff, would love to thank you in person and look forward to welcoming you on your next visit to Israel!
Program Coordinator Letter
Dear Rubin & Zenker Family,
I would like to express my deep gratitude for your support of the Girls’ Empowerment Program at ITEC Ofakim, which I have had the privilege of leading for the past three years. Your generosity allows us to provide these girls with a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where they can find strength to face their daily challenges.
The girls participating in this program are PTSD survivors who have endured difficult and life-altering experiences following October 7th. Some have lost loved ones, others have witnessed devastating scenes that will stay with them forever, and all continue to grapple with deep fears and anxieties. Through this program, we offer them a stable and supportive framework, which provides both emotional healing and social connection.
Twice a week, the girls attend tennis training sessions, where they develop their skills, build self-confidence, and learn to face challenges with determination and patience. Beyond that, once a week, they meet with Einav, our incredible psychologist, for group empowerment sessions. These sessions help them process their emotions, cope with their anxieties, and build inner resilience. They also participate in a weekly yoga session, which helps them relieve stress, reconnect with themselves, and find peace amidst the chaos.
This program is more than just an activity—it is a home. It is a place where the girls can feel safe, form new friendships, share their emotions, laugh, and find moments of joy despite the challenges they face. They support one another, grow together, and know they have a community that stands by their side every step of the way.
Understanding the program’s immense importance, we extended its duration for a third year. Additionally, we transformed our meeting room into the “Oasis of Joy”—a warm, beautifully designed space filled with games, books, and cozy seating areas, where the girls feel at home.
Beyond its purpose for the program, the Oasis of Joy also serves the entire ITEC Ofakim community.
The impact of this program is profound—it restores the girls’ self-belief, gives them hope, and empowers them to move forward with strength and growth. They learn to confront their fears, express themselves, gain strength, and form new friendships in a supportive and understanding group. None of this would be possible without your support. Thanks to you, these girls are given the chance to believe
in themselves again, rediscover their inner strength, and take steps toward a bright and hopeful future.
With heartfelt gratitude for your generosity, compassion, and dedication,
Ravid Dorin
Community Programs Coordinator ITEC Be’er Sheva & ITEC Ofakim
Municipality Letter
The Municipality of Ofakim wishes to express its deep appreciation and gratitude for the impactful work of the Tennis Center in Ofakim, particularly for the Girls’ Empowerment Program, which serves as a significant pillar of support for many young girls in our community.
The extensive activities of the ITEC Ofakim Tennis Center touch the lives of countless children and teenagers, providing them with a supportive, empowering, and inspiring environment. The center serves as a community hub, where children develop a sense of belonging, personal growth, and resilience through sports. Beyond athletic skills, the center fosters mental resilience, self-confidence, and essential life skills that will benefit the participants throughout their lives.
The Girls’ Empowerment Program is particularly valued, serving as a beacon of hope for girls facing complex challenges. Many of them carry trau -
matic experiences from the events of October 7th. The support they receive through this program provides them with strength, confidence, and hope, enabling them to believe in themselves and overcome their struggles.
We recognize the immense community and social value of the Tennis Center and its programs, and we are convinced that their positive impact on the children of Ofakim is profound and irreplaceable. Thanks to your generous support, the center continues to offer the city’s youth a safe space to grow, gain strength, and build a brighter future.
The Municipality of Ofakim sincerely thanks you for your dedication and partnership in creating a meaningful change for the future generation of our city.
With great respect and appreciation,
Municipality of Ofakim
Partner School Letter
Dear Rubin & Zenker Family,
My name is Danit, and I am the 7thgrade coordinator at Makif Amal School in Ofakim. The collaboration with the ITEC Ofakim Tennis Center has been remarkable and has been ongoing for five years. Each year, I am deeply moved by the Girls’ Empowerment Program, and this year, following the events of October 7th, its impact is even greater than ever.
Each week, Lidar, the assistant of one of the girls, accompanies them on foot to the tennis training and empowerment sessions with Einav, the incredible psychologist who guides them. I have no doubt that this program is one of the most valuable gifts they could receive, particularly this year.
In Ofakim, awareness of sports, and especially tennis, is quite low, and many families in the city struggle financially—especially in this difficult economic period—making it nearly impossible to afford extracurricular activities for their children.
For these girls, the program is much more than just a sports activity—it is a safe space where they can find a sense of belonging, feel part of a supportive group, and build self-confidence. Each girl carries a deeply emotional story, facing challenges on a daily basis.
This program gives them the opportunity to grow, experience new things, and build meaningful connections. Through the tennis centers, they develop self-esteem, resilience, and a stronger sense of self-worth.
I see their excitement every week before they head to the tennis center. Their eyes light up with joy and anticipation. The warm welcome they receive from the tennis center staff each week is truly heartwarming.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to you, the generous donors, for making it possible for these girls to participate in such a life-changing program. Because of your support, they are given the chance to succeed, integrate, and feel at home. Your contribution is not just an investment in sports activities—it is an investment in their future and emotional well-being.
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Danit
7th Grade Coordinator
Makif Amal School, Ofakim
Participant Stories: Noa
Noa, a 12-and-a-half-year-old girl, was born and raised in Ofakim. She has two siblings—an older brother and a younger sister. When she was eight years old, her parents went through a divorce, an event that continues to affect her deeply to this day.
When Noa first joined the ITEC Ofakim Tennis Center, she initially felt that tennis was not for her. However, over time, as she continued attending practices, she realized how much fun it was and now eagerly looks forward to every tennis session. She enjoys it so much that she even comes to play on Tuesdays in her free time, outside of the scheduled program hours.
Noa shares that every time she arrives at the tennis center, she feels pure happiness and excitement. Her confidence has grown significantly, thanks to the empowerment sessions with Einav, the group’s psychologist. She also formed new friendships, which boosted her self-esteem at school.
On October 7th, Noa was at her grandmother’s house, near her friend Rachel’s home, where she heard gunshots and even saw terrorists outside. This traumatic experience left a deep emotional scar, causing ongoing anxiety and difficult emotions that she continues to cope with daily.
During the group discussions with Einav, she finds the conversations about body image and personal experiences particularly helpful. Noa feels comfortable consulting with Einav even outside program hours, as she knows she can turn to her for guidance and support on any matter.
Despite her challenges, Noa faces life with optimism and a smile on her face.
Participant Stories: Lior
Lior Petito, 13 years old, was born and raised in Ofakim. She has two older brothers and one younger brother, who also participates in the Embrace Program at the ITEC Ofakim Tennis Center.
Lior has a time of eating disorders and suicide attempts when she was 10 years old, which led to her having a personal aide accompanying her at school.
Despite her past struggles, Lior is a bright, cheerful, and kind-hearted girl who describes the Girls’ Empowerment Program as life-changing. She shares that “a whole new world has opened up for me” thanks to the program.
Before joining tennis, Lior had no favorite sport, but through the program, she discovered her passion for it.
When she arrives at the tennis center, she feels butterflies in her stomach out of sheer excitement, eager to pick up the racket and play with her friends.
In the empowerment sessions with Einav, Lior feels that they help her open up, trust others, and build self-confidence. She appreciates having a safe space to share her thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment— knowing that everything remains confidential.
Lior also comes to the tennis center after school to play with her classmates, and she describes tennis as her “oxygen”—something that brings her joy, freedom, and a sense of belonging.
Thank you Jane, Rich, Leslie, & Mitch for your longtime and remarkable involvement.
With much gratitude, Your ITEC Family
ITEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. Tax ID: 13-2961273