JNS Wire reported on one of The Fellowship’s latest projects that take a unique approach to bomb shelters – particularly shelters Israeli children must use during times of attack. To do this, The Fellowship partnered with City Peloton to bring the world’s first playground, mobile shelter that combines safety and play. The southern Israeli city of Sderot has had one placed in Hakramim Park, a popular playground that also stands next to local kindergartens.
As opposed to a plain, concrete mobile bomb shelter that may intimidate children, the playground shelters offer a ladder up to a small second floor play area that also has a tube slide. The sloped, red roof gives the shelter a more house-like appearance to appeal to children and makes it feel like they never left the playground in the first place. Naturally, the shelter still maintains its reliable integrity and functionality.
Safwan Marich, manager of security and emergency programs at the IFCJ, said that “we are happy to have the opportunity to transform our protective spaces into friendly areas for the children. We continue to stand with Israel and work, in coordination with the Home Front Command of the Israel Defense Forces, to close the gaps that exist in protection wherever we can and whenever it’s needed.”
The IFCJ has installed hundreds of mobile shelters in public areas throughout Israel in the past few years, the majority along tense border communities in the north and south. During Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, dozens of shelters were installed, including in the center of the country, to address the immediate needs of protecting Israel’s citizens from incoming missile fire.
The Fellowship continues to work on closing gaps in Israel’s protection with the planned installation of 100 more shelters in the coming weeks, thanks to the help of our generous supporters.