Quality leisure time is an important and fundamental need that is sadly often unavailable to many families with disabled children.
These ‘special’ families find interaction with the outside world difficult and complex which often leads them to avoid any communal activity. They are forced to choose between a disability "tailored activity" or a "compromised activity" that does not suit all members of the family unit. Unfortunately, this causes families to steer clear of any attempt to spend leisure time together.
Kasimba co-founders, Noa and Roy Ofer, envisioned Kasimba the day they became a "special family". Romy (10) and Avshalom (6), a disabled child, are their two most cherished people in the world. To be able to experience quality leisure time with them, Noa and Roy decided to build a place that will encapsulate who they are as a family and will enable them, their children, relatives, friends and people at large to "feel at home". Thus, Kasimba (a registered NGO) was established - to provide families of all kinds (with or without disabilities) an opportunity to spend quality family leisure time together, in a forum in which all family members can partake.
Kasimba is such an important initiative because, currently, there are no indoor facility in Israel that enables families with disabled members to experience cultural and creative activities that are enjoyable for the whole family and allow them to interact with families without disabilities.
Our Vision
To create a state-of-the-art accessible, inclusive and receptive place that presents a wide artistic platform for people with and without disabilities, thus offering them the opportunity to jointly benefit from the experience of creative and enriching cultural activities.
Our Goals
1. To present an innovative and significant solution for leisure time for families of all kinds.
2. To produce original and unique artistic content enabling every individual, with or without a disability, to participate, experience, share and create, enabling them to gain confidence and boost their self esteem.
3. To openly address social issues through outstanding artistic and unique activities
4. To commit to excellence and uniqueness as a stepping stone towards self empowerment
5. To build an international model that can be used in Israel and around the world.
Our Values
1. Creativity
2. Acceptance, inclusiveness and tolerance
3. Innovation and excellence
4. Empathy and generosity
To date, Kasimba has held several workshops and gatherings featuring top Israeli performers in the dance, rhythm and music fields. These sessions were catered for children aged 3-17, with and without disabilities. The original content and the special artistic cooperation created a magical experience allowing children to interact with joy and freedom.
A permanent site for Kasimba has been selected in the Sharon region and will offer 500sqm of beautifully designed large studios, a cafe, Snoezelen room (controlled multisensory environment specially designed to deliver stimuli to various senses, using lighting effects, color, sounds, music, scents, etc) and more, as well as innovative and exciting content.
The site will be open by the end of 2021.
Sustainability
Kasimba will be open and active throughout the day. At times when activities are not held for Kasimba's designated population of families with and without disability, Kasimba will serve as a residency space for artists from Israel and abroad. In return for artists using Kasimba's state-of-the-art spaces, they will, in turn, offer unique activities fitting for Kaismba's community. The collaboration between the visiting artists and Kasimba's community creates a unique and productive synergy.
In addition, during mornings and evenings, Kasimba will initiate income-producing activities for the wider public, individuals, companies and schools. This will allow Kasimba to raise needed funds to continue our work.
Kaismba's activities are made possible by the generosity of individuals, organizations and foundations. Each donation enables us to welcome more children, with disabilities, and offer them unique, empowering and enriching artistic content.
Kasimba is planning a series of activities until the end of 2021, when our permanent site will be completed.
These activities will include workshops and meetings featuring top Israeli performers in the dance, rhythm and music fields.
The type of activities Offered at Kasimba allows everyone to participate, without special compromise, in an open, non-judgmental, accessible and inclusive environment.