For over 45 years, ITEC has opened its arms to all Israeli youth, regardless of culture, religion, or background. Jewish, Arab, Christian, Bedouin, Druze, and others have come together at ITEC’s 16 centers around the country to meet, play, learn and grow in a safe space.
This video captures the essence of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers commitment to collaboration and new partnership development with the Bedouin City of Rahat, the largest Arab city in Southern Israel, to provide more Bedouin children with the tools they need to succeed.
On June 7, 2021, ITEC leadership and collaborators from the Bedouin city of Rahat gathered at the Partnership Forum in Ramat Hasharon, Israel held at Rahat Leadership Day. Speakers on the forum included Faiz Abu Sahiban, Mayor of Rahat, Dr. Ian Froman, Co-Founder of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers, Dan Diker, Vice Chairman ITEC International Board of Directors, Erez Vider, ITEC Global CEO, and Aliza Abedelkader, Women’s Empowerment Advocate in Rahat. The day was dedicated to relationship building, leadership, excellence, inclusion, and tennis.
Rahat Leadership day represents the first stage in ITEC’s strategic plan to hit the ground running, and provide immediate assistance and equal opportunities to Bedouin children. ITEC’s street tennis initiative and in-school programs, allow staff to bring tennis to the children of Rahat. This is the first of many programs currently being developed. ITEC’s ultimate goal is to soon begin building a center in Rahat, to bring ITEC’s services directly to the Bedouin community, in hopes of developing the next generation of leadership.