{"id":2225,"date":"2019-02-24T13:29:39","date_gmt":"2019-02-24T11:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/negba.org\/negba2018\/?p=2225"},"modified":"2019-02-24T13:29:48","modified_gmt":"2019-02-24T11:29:48","slug":"israeli-soldiers-occupy-negba-for-a-day-capture-hearts-of-negbas-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/negba.org\/negba2018\/en\/2019\/02\/24\/israeli-soldiers-occupy-negba-for-a-day-capture-hearts-of-negbas-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Israeli Soldiers Occupy Negba for a Day, Capture Hearts of Negba\u2019s Children"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The\nIsrael Defense Forces recently conducted a military coup in Beersheva, as\ncombat soldiers from the Givati Brigade marched into Negba\u2019s after-school Homes\nand conquered the hearts of its kids. \nClad in army fatigues and armed with much love, roughly 15 \u2018special ops\u2019\nvolunteers spent an afternoon leading activities and interacting with Negba\u2019s\nchildren, who are still in awe from the visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0It was very moving and had a strong effect on me,\u201d said\nNatan P., age 10.  \u201cOne soldier helped me\na lot with my math homework.  Then we all\nplayed some games together.  It made me\nfeel really good.  It made me want to be\nin the army when I get older.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nsoldiers\u2019 visit to Negba resulted from a personal connection between their\nofficer, Staff Sergeant Ram Yakovson, and a friend who performed her national\nservice at Negba.  The soldiers paired\noff across Negba\u2019s various after-school Homes, first eating lunch as a group\nand then studying individually with each child. \nThere was also time for a soccer match and other games.  Throughout, the soldiers enraptured the kids\nwith \u201cwar\u201d stories from their military experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe best part was having my soldier to myself during the\nlearning hour, reflected Nehorai Z., 10. \n\u201cHe helped me so much with my school studies, and I enjoyed talking\nalone with him and hearing about him.  I\nwant to be a soldier just like him.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though serving in the army is quite a long way off for Nehorai\nand Natan, a central, long-term goal at Negba\nis to see its youth draft successfully into the military, an important step\ntowards integration into society.  The\nvisit with the soldiers certainly advanced steps in that direction.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think they saw us as role models,\u201d recalled Staff Sergeant\nYakovson.  \u201cThe volunteer encounter was\nmutually enriching, and a refreshing and satisfying experience.  I think the kids will want to enlist in the\narmy in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n