Rachel Pashaev
Posted February 13th, 2012
10 year old Rachel Pashaev, who is part of the ITC’s social impact projects, trains at the ITC – Ashkelon within the High Performance Tennis Program. Rachel doesn’t have an easy life – she lives in Sderot, eight miles away from Gaza, suffering from missile attacks on a regular basis. Yet, the commute to the ITC is well worth it – as Rachel dreams of becoming a tennis champion.
At the end of February 2012, Rachel will travel to the U.S.A to participate in exhibition matches in order to raise funds for the ITC – it will be her first time travelling abroad and the first time that a player from Sderot will travel to represent the Center in such an event. The ITC will be so proud to introduce her to our friends in Florida and California.
Rachel started playing tennis when she was four years old. Her family emigrated from Russia and her father, Vladislav, really wanted her to play tennis. Today, she trains four times a week for a total of 12 hours, with her coach Asi Shaul. Rachel is ranked in the top 10 in the U-10 girls age group in Israel and is ranked number 1 in the South of Israel. Rachel’s days are very long: after school she takes a bus to get the Center in Ashkelon and her father comes to pick her up when he finishes work; which means she doesn’t arrive home until after 8pm every day. Shaya Azar, manager of the ITC – Ashkelon, explains: “Rachel is such a hard worker. Despite all the difficulties that she faces in life, she always keeps her positive attitude and her smile. Rachel maintains unwavering focus on her tennis and her friends as opposed to the security threats she faces”.
Rachel: “I really love tennis as it allows me to stay calm and it keeps me healthy. I enjoy all my training sessions and I am a good student at school, but living in Sderot is really tough on me because we are constantly worried about security and listening out for the warning sirens. I have been living in a town which has been continually hit by missiles and rockets over the past nine years and very often during my trips to the ITC, we need to find shelter to escape the attacks. So far my life has been characterized by fear, anxiety and stress, especially when I am out of the house – on my way to school or to play tennis at the ITC – Ashkelon. I pray every day that peace will come and my family will be safe”. The ITC – Ashkelon has become a place of refuge for Rachel. She says: “Coming to the ITC – Ashkelon helps me a lot because it allows me to maintain a daily routine and to feel safe. Living in Sderot, even the most basic things such as playing outside with your friends can be dangerous”.
Rachel’s father, who encouraged her to start playing tennis, says: “Tennis has had such a positive effect on her. She has become more responsible, she listens to her mother and I and I am sure that the skills it has taught her, have had a positive effect on her grades in school as well. Rachel is very excited to travel abroad and it will give her a break from the difficult situations she faces at home”.
Rachel is able to play tennis thanks to a scholarship she receives from the Israel Tennis Centers. There are over 1000 children at risk who are in a similar situation as Rachel and thanks to the financial help they receive, they are able to participate in tennis and fitness programs in Centers around the country. Indeed, through a network of holistic welfare programs that teach discipline and self-control, improve self-confidence and provide community role models, the ITC is able to help children at risk mature into independent and responsible adults.
About The Israel Tennis Centers Foundation (“ITC”):
The ITC is a non-profit organization (formerly known as The Israel Children’s Centers is a 501 (c)) that works to enhance the social, psychological and physical development of Israeli children through the medium of sport. We provide a healthy and structured environment for children from all walks of life, teaching values of cooperation, persistence and tolerance. Thirty-five years after the inauguration of the first Israel Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon, the ITC has expanded throughout Israel and has nurtured and empowered more children and adults than the original founders could have ever dreamed. Currently one of the largest social-service agencies for children in Israel, the ITC operates 14 Centers throughout Israel’s periphery within socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The Centers are complete with cutting edge facilities and tennis courts that serve over 20,000 children. For additional background please visit: http://www.israeltenniscenters.org
