Volunteering at Chaimes daycare for kids with special needs has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have had already two years of experience working with individuals with special needs and coming to Israel I really wanted to continue in that field of work. In such a short amount of time, I have learned about the importance of patience and open-mindedness when working with children and even more so when it comes to autistic children (which are the kids I work with every day). I was so surprised to see how quickly the kids became so effective and “cuddly” with me since the first day, which makes the work experience so much better. Because the daycare is in Jaffa, I have also enjoyed becoming a part of this very diverse community, from the kids to the staff working alongside me. Going to work every day is fun and fulfilling, which is exactly the experience I was looking for when coming to Israel to do my year of service.
– Noa Benichou