The students in the science and technologies departments at Raanana middle schools took part in the “I Can Too” entrepreneurial project, and the winners were Amit Renanim, Hasharon, Alon, Yonatan and Roi Klein. The municipal competition was held by Eshkol Hapayis for the 10th consecutive year.

The “I Can Too” entrepreneurial project includes participants from all the city’s middle schools, and it is designed to help bring the students closer to the special needs population. The program includes meetings with people with disabilities, and includes a creative process designed to find solutions to the problems of the disabled, based on principles of science and technology.  The project is the initiative of Eshkol Hapayis and the Education Division.

Attending the municipal competition held last week were Mayor Nahum Hofree and city councilwoman, Bella Tzur – director of the welfare department and member of the panel of judges, as well as the education division director, teachers, volunteers and many  parents and students.

The products that won and will represent Raanana in the national competition are:
Amit Renanim – “Opener” – an accessory that helps open drink cans.

Hasharon Middle School – “Clothing Card” – an accessory that helps remove an article of clothing from the closet.

Alon Middle School – “Info-tag” and “Light for the Blind” – “Info-tag” is a tag attached to an article of clothing in a store, which contains information for those who are sight impaired, such as price, color and size.  “Light for the Blind” is a device that detects light bulbs that are still lit at the homes of the sight impaired, in order to save on electrical consumption.

Yonatan Middle School – “Exercise Hand” – An accessory that looks like a prosthesis that helps a person without a limb to do push up exercises.

Roi Klein High School – “Stand Ball” – an apparatus that enables people with special needs to participate in baseball games.

This week, the students presented their winning products to the national panel of judges, together with 26 other Eshkol Hapayis centers from across the country, that are participating in the competition.  The results of the national contest are expected to be published by June 1st.

Mayor Nahum Hofree:  “I congratulate the city’s students, who demonstrate the city’s success in encouraging students to be creative and innovative.  Raanana is proud to lead in a project such as this, that combines excellence and educational/social values and giving back to the community.”