Mifalot Chinuch was founded as Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club’s social responsibility project in 1997. Its vision is to fully use the potential and power of football in order to create a tolerant and supporting society through sport. Most activities of Mifalot are within socially marginalized populations, including ethnic minorities, persons with a variety of disabilities, victims of natural catastrophes, and conflict areas. Mifalot cannot stand by and allow such a turbulent security condition and especially does not condone the extremists on both sides who add to the hostile situation between Israel and Gaza.
Mistrust, hate, and incitement are currently pushing aside the faith, love, and togetherness between the two sides. At this time, we are being put to the test of humanity, friendship, and the bridges we have built in the past. Just when many are closing their doors and avoiding dialogue and understanding, we at Mifalot wish to remain true to who we are.
With courage, determination, and sensitivity, Mifalot continues to give every child the chance for peace, because we want their childhood to be marked with love and tolerance toward another.
The Mifalot family will never give in to incitement or hatred. Our spirit will stay strong, faithful, and joyful for a better tomorrow and to become a better society for our children.
These days we are trying our best in the field to light up the darkness that surrounds us. Last week, about 20 Mifalot staff members, coaches, and volunteers participated in activities across the country with six housing programs from the Health Ministry in Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Beer Sheva. Most of the activities took place in shelters. The participants from boarding programs for persons with psychiatric disorders live at the 40-kilometer strip and face continuous alarms and therefore repeated stressful events every day.
In addition, the Mifalot staff organized a peace tournament in the northern city of Afula, where both Arabs and Jews from different Mifalot programs participated in the tournament. The tournament included a big warm-up for them together, interactive games between teams, and a Ramadan feast at the end of the event. The tournament proved that despite the harsh situation, there is still common ground between the various sectors, and football proved to be one of them! Despite the current situation and the mixed feelings people had, the tournament was cheerful, fun, and sporty.
Mifalot is hoping for better days to come!