The “Afik” educational space operates within the Galilee Medical Center and provides educational and therapeutic support for hospitalized children and adolescents aged 6–18. It serves patients across various pediatric departments, including pediatrics, pediatric surgery, pediatric dialysis, and the department for child and family guidance.
“Afik” is an integral part of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department and serves as a stabilizing and continuous presence for hospitalized students, helping to establish a familiar, structured, and normalized daily routine. Learning during hospitalization significantly contributes to emotional balance, strengthens the child’s sense of self, fosters connection to their inner strengths, and restores a sense of control and organization for children dealing with emotional and functional challenges.
Our goal is to create a safe, enriching, and innovative learning environment—equipped with advanced technologies and diverse opportunities for learning, interaction, and social connection. Instruction is individually tailored to each student based on age, ability, and emotional state, combining core curriculum subjects with a wide range of enrichment activities such as art, music, communication, sports, gardening, and therapeutic horticulture. These fields cultivate multiple intelligence and promote the emotional well-being of our students.
The teaching staff maintains ongoing contact with community schools, and each student follows a personalized learning plan. High school students may even take matriculation exams during their hospitalization, supporting learning continuity and maximizing their academic potential.
The therapeutic aspect of the program includes both individual and group expressive therapies, led by a multidisciplinary team of professionals in music, movement, art, drama, psychodrama, and animal-assisted therapy. Therapy rooms are equipped with specialized materials to encourage creativity and emotional expression, based on the understanding that creative processes enable emotional projection, enhance self-confidence, and foster the development of coping skills for everyday challenges.
The “Afik” learning environment was designed with careful consideration of the students’ needs, emphasizing both pedagogical and physical innovation. The space includes modular furniture, varied learning zones, advanced technologies, and a flexible layout that allows for both group and individual learning. The physical design aims to support pedagogical goals and encourage collaboration, social interaction, and active student participation—while creating a sense of belonging, safety, and growth.
“Afik” proves that even during times of crisis and hospitalization, it is possible to grow, learn, develop, and thrive.
