While I and my fellow WOFI members met the Kassam rockets with curiosity and excitement as we entered Sderot, these rockets instill fear in the city’s children. Despite this threat, Sderot has been able to reconstruct their damaged homes and create a new way to safely live. They have been able to do this with help from overseas communities and an advancement in military technology
While the damage from the rockets that have hit Sderot are a major dilemma, the biggest threat created by the rockets are the safety of the children physically and mentally. The city of Sderot has made adjustments to their cities blueprints in order to create a safe place for their children to grow up and maintain a “normal” life. Playgrounds now require sections of the equipment to be able to withstand a rocket and provide a safe place to hide in case of an attack. One playground contained a shelter disguised as a caterpillar tunnel that children could play on during the day and rely on when necessary. Inside this shelter I noticed a quote that read, “It’s life that I love,” and this shelter protected just that. Many schools in Sderot have been remade in order to withstand a rocket’s attack allowing children to study and learn in peace.
Our visit to Sderot proved the beauty of a place that has only been recognized for its countless terrorist attacks and revealed its many attempts to improve the city and restore everyday life. Seeing the playgrounds and schools that have replaced the vulnerable structures showed me and my fellow WOFI members how hard the government has worked to make its people and land safe from those who wish them harm. Following our visit to Sderot we discussed how our previous fear for the infamous city had been replaced with an appreciation for its people, scenery, and culture. Despite its unfortunate circumstances Sderot is a normal city with people who deserve to feel safe and lead happy lives.