Eden school is located in Kibbutz Karmia. The school's educational worldview is expressed in Maya Angelou's words, which are written at the entrance to the complex:
"People will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.”
The school was established more than a decade ago specifically for the girls at Eden Residential trauma care, and it upholds the feminist concept that guides the association and is expressed in the principles of the Eden model, which are adapted to the school environment:
- Placing the girl at the center – as a starting point for the educational activity.
- Creating a 'safe space' that encourages the development and expansion of capabilities and interests.
- Maintaining routine and boundaries as an infrastructure.
- Striving to shape and attain clearly defined personal goals.
At the foundation of all school activities is a deep understanding that the purpose of education is self-discovery and development – girls who know themselves and expand their abilities. This is a pedagogy of a 'personal journey' in all its aspects. The girl has the best knowledge of herself, and she has the ability to shape her life and change reality when she is the axis of change for herself.
The school is a joint project of the Eden association and the Israeli Ministry of Education's HILA program for at-risk youth. The HILA program has a dedicated team of therapy-oriented teachers with high-level personal skills, and provides one-on-one counseling based on the recognition of the girls' various needs.
The work at the school is based on an integrative model in which the girl is at the center. A personalized program is built for her according to her own wishes and evolving ability. The program promotes her skills and capabilities in three spaces simultaneously, according to the principles of integration between emotion-intellect and practice:
The educational space
Studies at our school come from the understanding that every girl wants a life worth living, and that her academic success is a concrete measure of her worth and ability.
With a foundation of the core subjects at the school, the girl will be able to expand five units (credits) in mathematics and English, and five additional units either in geography or in the growing photography program, as well as additional vocational courses.
The discoursal space
Every morning, the class begins with ten minutes of 'good morning'. The goal is to see that everyone is present and to identify if anyone needs a hug, support, or validation. This is a time for order and clarity in the day. Additionally, each class holds a weekly lesson on various pressing and important matters and current events, and additional time for personal conversations between the educator and each girl individually.
Enrichment space
There is an enrichment room at the school, where art, photography and writing workshops are conducted, as well as fitness exercises, in parallel to the regular lessons. The workshops are delivered in small groups and are attended by the girls based on their personal preference and desire to expand their horizons and experience new things. This is an opportunity to explore new spaces, and also a way to vent and heal pain and difficulty. In addition, the girls take various courses such as styling, makeup, and therapeutic riding, as part of the skills portfolio in the HILA program.
The school staff is proud that 100% of its students complete 12 years of schooling, and 90% pass all or some of their matriculation exams.
Eden is undoubtedly a unique and special school. It is a place where everyone is female – the girls and the team – and the camaraderie between them is felt and expressed in mutual respect and in a genuine desire for change that begins here and takes place now.