FROM THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
It’s been over a decade since I took over the management of the Mercaz Cochav Association that was then a small center essentially for the local population in Ma’alot. I did not anticipate then that we would reach so many people in the entire northern periphery area. Today, when I get up in the morning and go to work it is with a sense of both pride and satisfaction.
With the assistance of a team of special people, families and donors I am proudly part of the important work of inculcating the values of tolerance and integration into society and of providing equal opportunities for people with special needs. Primarily, it is to build a life of values and significance for our members. The pervading thought of our association for these values at its outset is now the very light that guides us along this path ever since. It is that people with cognitive, physical and emotional difficulties have the right to live full lives in every sphere and to receive comprehensive qualitative and professional services within the community they live in.
Despite the considerable geographic distances and the human complexity of our northern periphery we have succeeded, step by step, to build social and leisure centers, rehabilitation and occupational centers as well as residential centers that all address their needs.
Today, we provide solutions to our specific target population, integrating people according to their abilities in the normative employment market, lending support to those that choose to live at home and are in need of a guiding hand and a sympathetic ear.
We encourage people with special needs to be individual people with abilities and strengths with which they can attain their desires.
It is my hope that in the future we will be able to continue and to provide further responses for the benefit of people with special needs, to help them realize their latent potential and for each one of them to reach out to his or her personal star.
Sincerely yours,
Ruth y Goffer,
Managing Director of the Association
The “Ot Hahesed” (Benevolence Insignia) for 2003 was awarded to Ruthy Goffer for developing qualitative and professional services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
With the assistance of a team of special people, families and donors I am proudly part of the important work of inculcating the values of tolerance and integration into society and of providing equal opportunities for people with special needs. Primarily, it is to build a life of values and significance for our members. The pervading thought of our association for these values at its outset is now the very light that guides us along this path ever since. It is that people with cognitive, physical and emotional difficulties have the right to live full lives in every sphere and to receive comprehensive qualitative and professional services within the community they live in.
Despite the considerable geographic distances and the human complexity of our northern periphery we have succeeded, step by step, to build social and leisure centers, rehabilitation and occupational centers as well as residential centers that all address their needs.
Today, we provide solutions to our specific target population, integrating people according to their abilities in the normative employment market, lending support to those that choose to live at home and are in need of a guiding hand and a sympathetic ear.
We encourage people with special needs to be individual people with abilities and strengths with which they can attain their desires.
It is my hope that in the future we will be able to continue and to provide further responses for the benefit of people with special needs, to help them realize their latent potential and for each one of them to reach out to his or her personal star.
Sincerely yours,
Ruth y Goffer,
Managing Director of the Association
The “Ot Hahesed” (Benevolence Insignia) for 2003 was awarded to Ruthy Goffer for developing qualitative and professional services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
