The technological trends in high schools have received high levels of demand in recent years, and the number of students approaching the matriculation 5 credits in computer science and physics is constantly increasing. However, there are those who believe that it is important to impart additional skills – and so they established the 8200 Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Azrieli Foundation, Ministry of Education and the Oracle company, the SEL challenge – technologies for learning social and emotional skills that are embedded in schools.
In the first stage, the goal is to give the students abilities that are directly linked to an improvement in academic achievements and social relationships, an improvement in the indicators of happiness and mental well-being, as well as a reduction of dangerous behaviors and violent behavior. Among other things, they will work with the students on a sense of competence, emotional regulation, ability to withstand pressure, task management and more.
In the second phase, the teachers will deal with social mobility, improving the ability to integrate into the labor market and increasing the earning capacity. 10 million shekels were invested in the project, with half of the amount coming from donations from the private sector, and the other half being financed by the Ministry of Education.
The project began when 300 ad-tech companies submitted their nominations for the challenge, from which eight companies were selected who received a grant of NIS 100,000 and developed their technologies as part of a unique accelerator program. During the summer dozens of teachers underwent special training, and in the coming month they will already use the new developments in 66 middle schools throughout the country (including in the Arab society and the Druze society).
“The education system has undergone a major upheaval in the last two years due to the corona epidemic, and beyond the gaps in the material being taught, the social and emotional skills of the students have also been significantly damaged,” says Naomi Gubrin Schwartz, director of the SEL Challenge. “We sought to harness the power of the startup nation and entrepreneurship for the benefit of education, with the understanding that these skills are essential for students.”
Galit Hatan
Industrial Zone
Pierre Cardin, now also for children
The Italian-French company Pierre Cardin is introducing its children’s brand to Israel, and will do so through the company Bubbles, which will serve as the exclusive franchisee for the production and marketing of the brand. The items will now be sold on the Bubbles e-commerce site, in its 15 physical stores across the country, in about 80 wholesale points of sale and other retail stores.
Bubbles markets premium brands for children, including Timberland, Ripley, Kenzo, Hugo Boss and more. Beyond its retail and wholesale activities, the company has another arm under the name Brand New Commerce, through which it carries out online activities for premium brands with which it has signed partnership agreements. So far, seven such agreements have been signed, among others with the brands Vendome, Swarovski and Roberto Vino.
Shira Sapir
The new trend: all-inclusive event
Dream Group is launching a new nationwide club chain, Solo Club, which offers an “all inclusive” package for events for children and teenagers, at a price tag of up to NIS 100 per guest. So far, three branches have been opened in Rananim Mall in Ra’anana, G Kfar Saba and Friendly Mall in Gan Yavneh, with a total investment of NIS 4.5 million. Three more clubs are due to open during 2023, all in close proximity to the Play Parks, which are also owned by the group.
According to Alon Goren, one of the owners of the group, “We recognized the need for quality events for young people that do not tear the parents’ pockets, and are done with one supplier – without the ‘wedding’ feeling of dealing with dozens of different service providers.”
The plan to integrate Druze into high-tech
35 soldiers and female soldiers discharged from the IDF, members of the Druze community, completed the first software testing (QA) course intended only for members of the community, at the Technion’s school of continuing education. About 40% of them also received an international certification certificate and a certificate from the Ministry of Labor.
The course, which lasted eight months, was the first of a series of courses in high-tech professions intended for members of the community, with the aim of integrating them into an industry where their rate is currently extremely low. This is the fruit of a first collaboration between the School of Continuing Studies at the Technion, under the management of Oded Raviv, and the CEO and Vice President of the Technion, Boaz Golani, and the chairman of the association for the promotion of the status of the Druze soldier, Koftan Halabi, the Usafia Council and the technological innovation center of the Druze community, which was built These days in the city.
According to Raviv, “the vision of influential people in Druze society, together with a push from the Technion, turned the idea of integrating veterans from the community into the high-tech industry – a reality. Our leading challenge now will be assisting the integration of the graduates into the industry. In the coming days, training for veterans from the Druze community will also begin in the cyber worlds.”
The lawyer crossing the road
Attorney Ram Spector, who served as (joint) head of the fund establishment department at Shablat, joins with another lawyer from his department to the funds department at the firm “Yigal Arnon – Tadmor Levy”. Spector is expected to lead the field of investment funds together with attorney Yarom Romem.
Spector recently accompanied the establishment of the Evo hotel fund managed by IBI and Africa Israel, and the establishment of the Nordic Power 2 fund, which deals with investing in renewable energy projects in Scandinavia. According to attorney Gil Oren, managing partner of Bigal Arnon – Tadmor Levy, “the combination of Yarom, who specializes mainly in venture capital funds and private equity funds, with Ram’s expertise in the field of real estate funds, is a force multiplier, from which our clients are expected to profit.”
good news
cleaning the beach Dozens of MSC employees together with members of the Etiger association, which integrates and empowers people with disabilities through outdoor adventure sports, went on a beach cleaning operation at the Shekuma Nature Reserve in Haifa.
Increase environmental awareness. As part of a move to raise awareness of the issue of sustainability among its customers, the Sibus company distributes to about 500 customers picnic kits that include reusable products made from recycled materials.