How does Sport – Bridge to Education transform young bodies and minds?
Many vulnerable children and teens in Israel grow up facing trauma, instability and extremely difficult life circumstances, leaving them without confidence, direction or positive frameworks. Too often, these young people struggle with low self-esteem, poor coping skills and limited opportunities to build healthy, successful futures.
Sport – Bridge to Education uses the power of sport to help change that trajectory. Founded by Dr. Rutie Pilz-Burstein, former General Director of the Wingate Institute, the programme works within youth villages for at-risk children and teens, using intensive sports training as a tool for emotional growth, resilience and personal development. Through dedicated coaching, teamwork and regular training sessions, participants learn discipline, responsibility, perseverance and how to cope with both success and failure.
But the impact goes far beyond physical fitness. The programme helps young people develop confidence, social skills and a sense of belonging, while creating strong peer support networks and positive role models. Graduates often go on to lead healthier lifestyles, avoid destructive behaviours such as smoking and drugs, and pursue ambitious educational and career paths. For many participants, Sport – Bridge to Education provides not only a sport, but a completely new vision for their future.
Every story matters
MEET MICHAEL
“I came to the village (youth-at-risk home) in grade 10 at the age of 15 after being on the streets for a long time, literally on the streets. I was involved in all sorts of trouble and exposed to things no kid should see. I did not attend school for a long period.”
Michael grew up in a religious home and when he decided to leave the religious lifestyle, he found himself homeless.
Through the Welfare Department, Michael was sent to a youth village. He heard about the Sport- Bridge to Education programme and was interested even though he didn’t really have any experience in sports and had never heard of the Brazilian game ‘fuchiball’.
He passed a selection process to be accepted into the programme. “In my childhood I’d never experienced ‘excellence’. So here, for the first time, I realised that I have to work hard and prove myself to stay in this special programme”.
Michael started to change his habits. “I had to quit alcohol and drugs. You can’t do sport; you can’t be excellent if you keep those bad habits.. He would go to bed early in order to be up at 6am for the morning training. Michael admits it was not easy in the beginning and it was hard for him to resist temptations. In Grade 11, it suddenly clicked for him and he became one of the top fuchibal players. He got the opportunity to train with the best players on Tel Aviv beach and they ‘adopted’ him to help with his training.
The programme also encouraged Michael to be more serious about his studies and against all odds, he completed his final exams and was recruited to a top military unit of the army. His relationship with his family also improved and they came to his ceremony after completing his basic army training, which was a very significant event and somewhat of a miracle after everything he’d been through.
