In many cases, young adults with physical disabilities are prevented from serving in Israel’s Military or National Service.  Denying them this opportunity places them at a disadvantage for their personal development and social integration and can have life-long repercussions. 

Sderot’s Wings programs is there to support them – in this program, young adults with disabilities can be like their normative peers, serving in National Service and studying in college.  Wings is a two-year program.  In the first year participants are enrolled in National Service, serving the community in positions that need their skills.  Serving in National Service strengthens their independence and self-confidence, provides them with training and opportunities, and grants them equal rights with their normative peers who have served in the military.  In the second year of Wings, they begin academic studies in Sapir College near Sderot, with a course list adjusted to meet their interests and abilities.

Sderot’s Wings program is already in its second year. Participants, ages 18-21, live in group apartments, one of which is located in Migvan, Sderot’s urban kibbutz.  Migvan’s members, who founded Gvanim Association, feel that sharing their lives and neighborhood with the disabled community embodies their values of community and supporting people with disabilities. 

A new student village is being built in Moshav Yahini, next to Sderot, by the Ayalim Association.  The dormitories will include a complex of apartments adapted to meet the needs of physically disabled students, and Wings participants will be welcome to live there while they study.   

The Wings program is operated by Gvanim under the supervision and guidance of Kivunim Association, which created and operates the Wings Program in Northern Israel.

Gvanim thanks its Program Partners:  Kivunim Association, the Ministry of Social Services/Division of Services for the Disabled, the National Insurance Institute/Dept of Services for the Disabled/The Foundation for Development of Unique Initiatives/the Foundation for the Development of Services for the Disabled, the Ministry of Education/Division for Adult Education, Ashalim, the Gandyr Foundation LTD

" I can fly "