Ben Israel, Director of School based Chicago Program
During the summer of 2024, I worked as a camp counselor for Keshet, a program that helps integrate campers with different abilities into camp life. This experience was not only eye-opening, but also made me realize that there are many places and people in the world who don’t have access to programs like these, and there are places where discrimination against people with different abilities is very prevalent. After realizing this, I knew that I wanted to make a difference and educate others on the prejudice that occurs in our world today, especially the younger generation who will grow up and become leaders in our society.
In the time we’re living in, prejudice, discrimination, and many forms of hatred are surrounding us everywhere we go. With the ongoing conflicts in the world, the division between people based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, etc. is higher than any other time in history. That is why it is so incredibly important for people, especially the youth, to be educated on what it means to be an upstanding citizen and to teach people how to stand up against injustice.
The program and curriculum offered from the S.T.O.P. team is truly incredible. After reaching out, the S.T.O.P. leaders forwarded easy-to-use but also in-depth slides and activities to use in teaching for the younger students. Of course, not every group of students is the same, which is why through a little bit of time I was able to adjust the curriculum to the needs and interests of the students I was teaching. The leeway that I was given when working with the S.T.O.P. curriculum was truly incredible, as I was given no constraints as to what I should and shouldn’t include or do. I’m very thankful for the opportunities that the S.T.O.P. leaders have given me to implement this program in Chicago, and I truly recommend this program to any young leaders who want to make a difference in their communities.
For more information on starting a school based group click here.