Athena Fund – December 2024 Update
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ImagineBox in 2024 – a Year of Expansion, Creation and Coping with the Challenges of Education and the Effects of War
Dear friends,
Athena Fund is leading the way in Israel in the use of immersive technology as an innovative educational tool for developing learning skills. We are also using immersive technology to assist those coping with trauma and post-trauma.
We are implementing immersive technology in smart classrooms through our innovative ImagineBox program. ImagineBox is a unique, interactive and immersive classroom used to enrich students. ImagineBox leads to creative thinking and high involvement of students and teachers, thereby bringing about a change in educational perceptions in Israel.
The term “immersive” describes an interactive experience that envelops the participant in an environment incorporating advanced technologies, such as interactive projections on walls and floors, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). These experiences are fascinating and stimulating to the senses.
2024 was a challenging year with war in the south and north, as well as missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks in all parts of the country. Despite the difficulties, we continued to develop and deploy new ImagineBox classrooms countrywide. These interactive spaces have proven effective not only in promoting innovative learning experiences, but also in providing tools for coping with trauma and post-traumatic conditions among both children and adults.
ImagineBox broke boundaries this year, not only in schools but also in academia and colleges of education. Using innovative editing software that is a central component of the ImagineBox offering, teachers and students created interactive lesson plans and shared knowledge in unique pedagogical communities.
As mentioned, the war period also revealed the enormous therapeutic potential of ImagineBox in collaboration with experts such as Prof. Mooli Lahad. Innovative protocols have been developed for use in treating trauma therapy and strengthening emotional resilience, with ImagineBox rooms acting as unique treatment spaces. In addition, ImagineBox rooms are functioning as memorial and commemoration sites.
During the three years of the ImagineBox program, we already have deployed 80 active immersive classrooms throughout the country, in all population sectors. In the coming months, we plan to expand the program and reach close to 100 deployed classrooms. This achievement places Israel in a leading position worldwide in the number of immersive/interactive classrooms operating in its territory.
We’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our dear donors. In the past year, ImagineBox has proven that it’s not just a place for learning – it's a platform for achieving real change, empowering students and teachers, and building a future full of new opportunities. Every donation, large or small, enables us to expand and create new educational experiences that develop the imagination and creativity of the next generation.
We thank each and every one of you for your unending support for ImagineBox and other Athena Fund initiatives even in times of crisis and war. Your support allows us to continue providing each teacher and student with the tools they need to realize their personal potential. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey!
We also thank all of our partners who supported and believed in us during this extraordinary year. Special thanks to the Mifal HaPais (National Lottery) management team, the Totally Interactive team, and our Athena Fund team who are working hard to achieve our goals and fulfill our dreams.
Together we will continue to expand the ImagineBox program, create a better future, and foster hope for a healthier and more educated society. Thank you to everyone who shares our path and vision.
Happy holiday season to you and yours,
Uri Ben-Ari
Founder & President, Athena Fund
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ImagineBox – 4 synchronized and interactive screens with thousands of immersive content units
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30 New ImagineBox Classrooms Deployed During the War!
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2024 was a year of war in which Israel fought on several fronts simultaneously. In this war, the home front was also continuously attacked; many areas were damaged, with the worst damage in the south and north. Despite the security and social challenges, Athena Fund continued to act with determination and develop groundbreaking educational initiatives, with an emphasis on strengthening the education system even under difficult conditions.
One of the most significant successes of the year was the establishment of 30 new ImagineBox classrooms. These were added to the existing 50 rooms, so by the end of 2024 we have reached 80 immersive classrooms spread throughout the country.
This project did not stop, even in areas that were severely affected by the war. This symbolized our commitment to bring advanced educational tools to students and teachers regardless of geographical area and difficult security situations. ImagineBox classrooms were deployed not only in schools but also in institutions of higher education and colleges of education, with the understanding that creativity and innovation are essential growth engines for the entire education system.
This year, Imagine Box spaces have proved themselves not only as an educational tool, but also as a supporting infrastructure for students and adults coping with the challenges of trauma and post-trauma. Using advanced technologies and creative work methods, the immersive spaces have provided a supportive and empowering environment that promotes experiential learning and provides skills for coping with crises. This year, more than ever, we have seen that an innovative education system can serve as a stable anchor even in the most difficult times.
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Inauguration of ImagineBox at the Ramat Korazim School in Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council
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Inauguration of ImagineBox at the Amit Yeshurun religious girls’ high school in Petah Tikva
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Inauguration of the ImagineBox at Tapuach Pais building in Merhavim Regional Council
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Inauguration of ImagineBox at HaMeuhad School in Yeruham
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Inauguration of ImagineBox at Caesarea School in Hof HaCarmel Regional Council
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Inauguration of ImagineBox at Kol Yaakov School in Yeruham
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Innovative Initiative by ALUT and Athena Fund: A Bridge to the World of People on the Autism Spectrum
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Athena Fund has worked for years to promote education for children with special needs. We are now leveraging our knowledge and experience with the immersive technologies of ImagineBox in a unique project together with ALUT, the National Israeli Society for Children and Adults with Autism. The purpose of the project is to illustrate what the world looks like from the perspective of people on the autism spectrum, using virtual reality and interactive learning technologies.
ALUT is engaged in promoting the rights and social integration of people on the autism spectrum. The innovative project of ALUT and Athena Fund is a groundbreaking initiative for gaining deep familiarity with the world of children and adults with autism.
We unveiled the initiative in the framework of ALUT’s fundraising day. The project aims to illustrate the experiences, abilities and challenges of people on the autism spectrum in an experiential and moving way at the ImagineBox classroom at the Ramon School in Petah Tikva. The project combines advanced technologies of virtual reality and interactive learning.
The project works to raise awareness among diverse audiences – parents, educators and students – with the aim of reducing stigmas and building bridges between worlds. Through direct experience, participants develop empathy and tools for inclusive and progressive communication.
ImagineBox illustrates not only the challenges but also the potential and uniqueness of people on the autism spectrum. It is a tool for affecting social change and building a supportive environment, thereby promoting equal opportunities and a deeper understanding of the world of people with autism. The initiative combines advanced technology and education for a more equal and inclusive society.
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For an article (in Hebrew) published on the Walla website, click here
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ImagineBox: A Breakthrough in the Treatment of Trauma and Post-Trauma
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The war of the past year has left a deep mark on children, youth and adults, who are experiencing symptoms of trauma and post-trauma. In response, Athena Fund, in collaboration with the Zarrow Foundation and Prof. Mooli Lahad, Founder and President of the Community Stress Prevention Centre (CSPC), developed a network of four groundbreaking ImagineBox immersive spaces. These spaces are located at: the Ramat Korazim School in the Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council; the Kabri Springs School in the Mateh Asher Regional Council; the Shevet Sofer Elementary School in Hazor HaGlilit; and the Even Shoham Elementary School in Nahariya. Additionally, an ImagineBox classroom was established at the Tapuach Pais building in the Merhavim Regional Council in cooperation with the multinational company ICL.
These ImagineBox spaces provide an innovative environment for emotional therapy using advanced virtual reality tools, while incorporating research-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is in addition to the role of these ImagineBox classrooms as interactive and immersive learning spaces.
Prof. Mooli Lahad is an internationally renowned expert in the field of treating trauma and stress. He is the founder of the CSPC, which develops innovative therapeutic approaches to treating trauma and building personal and community resilience. For many years, Prof. Lahad has accompanied communities and individuals in rehabilitation processes following traumatic events, while developing unique models that have been implemented in Israel and internationally.
ImagineBox immersive spaces are designed to create a safe environment for gradually coping with trauma and post-trauma, while incorporating experiential technologies that allow participants to reexperience stressful events in a controlled environment. The goal of the method is to help dismantle feelings of anxiety and fear and to provide practical tools for coping with daily challenges. The process helps not only to reduce the symptoms of trauma and post-trauma, but also to develop mental resilience and the ability to deal with complex emotional situations.
As mentioned, the ImagineBox spaces are being used to implement the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) method. In the treatment of trauma and post-trauma, CBT focuses on processing traumatic experiences, managing anxiety, and improving how one deals with stressful situations, while providing practical tools to improve one’s quality of life.
In addition, ImagineBox spaces offer customized content that integrates experiential learning. The content allows patients to undergo a personal process that includes emotional activity and the strengthening of cognitive abilities. As a result, users benefit not only from emotional improvement, but also from practical learning that prepares them to deal with future challenges.
The ImagineBox immersive spaces are a testament to the ability of advanced technology to serve not only as a learning tool but also as a source of support and treatment for communities in crisis situations.
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Prof. Mooli Lahad: treating trauma in an ImagineBox immersive space
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ImagineBox: A Breakthrough in Commemorating Israels’ Fallen Soldiers
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ImagineBox classrooms can be used as a memorial room for the fallen soldiers of Israel's wars. Many schools have begun using ImagineBox to commemorate fallen soldiers from the current war as well as those from previous wars.
ImagineBox Memorial Museum in Memory of the Late Lt. Col. Salman Habaka
In the Druze community of Yanuh-Jat there is a memorial museum in memory of the late Lt. Col. Salman Habaka, a brave fighter and commander of the 53rd Battalion of the 188th "Barak" (Lightning) Armored Brigade. Salman fell in battle (in November 2023) in the northern Gaza Strip during the current Iron Swords War when he was only 33 years old. He was laid to rest in the military section of the cemetery in Yanuh, leaving behind a wife, a child, parents and siblings.
The museum is located in the ImagineBox classroom at Yanuh-Jat Junior High School and offers a moving experience through multimedia technologies. Visitors get a unique glimpse into Salman's life, work and contribution to the country through videos, digital exhibits and personal stories that tell about the battles in which he participated, his heroism and his legacy. The exhibits deal not only with memory, but also provide inspiration for the younger generation, emphasizing the values of sacrifice, leadership, and contribution to society.
The virtual memorial museum with the story of the late Lt. Col. Salman Habaka is available for viewing and visiting in all ImagineBox classrooms participating in the program throughout Israel.
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ImagineBox Memorial Museum in Memory of Lt. Col. Salman Habaka OBM from Yanuh-Jat
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Strengthening Ofakim: Resilience and Commemoration in ImagineBox
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The city of Ofakim suffered a severe blow in the terror attacks of October 7 when about 50 residents of the city were killed. The ImagineBox immersive space at Amal Amirim High School in Ofakim, initiated by Athena Fund, has become a central tool in coping with the emotional and communal consequences of difficult events. About 1,000 students study at Amal Amirim High School, and among those who were killed on October 7 were graduates of the school.
A special commemoration project developed in ImagineBox allowed students to collect life stories of the fallen and create an interactive memorial exhibit. The project provides bereaved families and students with a space for preserving memories and offers them a moving way to share and preserve the legacy of their loved ones.
For an article (in Hebrew) published on the People & Computers website, click here.
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Memorial room in ImagineBox at Amal Amirim High School in Ofakim (photo: PR)
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Creative Lesson Plans and Immersive Learning Experiences: The Contribution of Teachers and Students in ImagineBox
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In ImagineBox classrooms scattered throughout Israel, unique lesson plans have been designed and created by creative teaching teams using advanced technologies to provide a lively and immersive learning experience.
Alongside these teachers, students also are contributing to the creation of immersive learning experiences that upgrade the educational process. For example, students at the multidisciplinary Amal Amirim Middle School in Ofakim and at the multidisciplinary Amal Aviation & Space School in Ma'ale Adumim have created innovative projects that enrich the learning experience.
Students experience peer education and nurture skills in digital literacy, collaborative work, interpersonal communication, critical and creative thinking, and more. In this framework, they acquire knowledge and gain experience with a variety of digital tools. Among other things, Amal Amirim students in Ofakim have created a memorial room, a trivia quiz about countries, and experiential learning about gaming, football, the world of plants and more. These projects emphasize the ability to combine creativity and technology for experiential learning.
Lesson plans created by teachers include programs about historical figures such as David Ben-Gurion, Theodor (Binyamin Ze'ev) Herzl, and Yitzhak Rabin, alongside cultural content such as the Sigd holiday of Ethiopian Jews and virtual tours of Jerusalem. The wide variety of content emphasizes the combination of history, culture, and innovative education.
ImagineBox also promote practical skills with lesson plans such as financial education, which provides students with tools for smart financial management. Thus, they not only learn theoretical knowledge but also develop practical skills that are essential for life.
The Studio editing software of ImagineBox serves as a platform for sharing created content. It functions as a workspace in which visual and experiential content can be designed, edited, and uploaded according to educational or therapeutic needs. In this way, it is possible to offer lesson plans, commemorative content, or personalized therapeutic materials for a variety of audiences.
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6th-graders at Yefe Nof Religious Elementary School in Ma'ale Adumim learn about fire and Hanukah
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Kindergarten children of Herzliya learn about space at the Early Childhood Science Center in Herzliya
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A study unit on the subject of flags of the world developed by students in Ofakim
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Shoshi Ben Yosef, Principal of Yitzhak Navon Education Center in Yokneam: "The children leave the room with a great sense of experiential learning"
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Shoshi Ben Yosef, Principal of Yitzhak Navon School of Sciences & Arts in Yokneam
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Shoshi Ben Yosef, principal of the Yitzhak Navon School of Sciences & Arts in Yokneam, emphasizes the tremendous advantages of ImagineBox, which has become a central educational tool at the school. "ImagineBox is another resource that leads to learning through experience and passion," she says. "After sitting in lessons with the teacher, the students engage in group work, conduct discussions, do research and experiments, ask questions, and reach very high results in their ability to understand the content in depth."
Ben Yosef notes that ImagineBox lessons allow learning topics in depth in a short time. "If we were to teach this content in a regular classroom, it would take at least a month. Using ImagineBox, in two or three lessons our students assimilate the material in a deep way while having a tremendous experience."
The ImagineBox also promotes group work and respectful discourse while allowing students to practice various skills. "The children leave the room with a great sense of experiential learning," adds Ben Yosef, "while acquiring lots of knowledge and understanding."
Ben Yosef notes that the school’s ImagineBox “offers students groundbreaking learning experiences and helps prepare the graduate in the best possible way, using advanced technology that leads to experiential learning of much content and many topics."
To view a 2-minute video (in Hebrew with English subtitles) of Shoshi Ben Yosef talking about ImagineBox at her school, click here.
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ImagineBox Can Strengthen Israeli Students' Understanding of Mathematics and Science
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Recently, worrying data was published about a sharp decline in the scores of Israeli 8th-graders on international tests in mathematics and science. The problem seems broad and complex. But immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) offer innovative solutions that can significantly improve these areas of study.
ImagineBox and immersive technologies allow students to enter the world of science and mathematics in an experiential and practical way. Instead of being content with only reading theoretical material, students can "step into" scientific experiments, demonstrate mathematical problems or run models, all within a dynamic environment that inspires curiosity. Such experiences not only improve understanding, but also give students a sense of success and control over the studied material.
Additionally, these technologies allow students to work in groups, cooperate, and tackle challenges collaboratively. Thus, the combination of personal experience and group learning leads the students to find creative solutions. For example, an experiment in a science lab including virtual reality can expose students to physical experiments that were previously inaccessible to them.
In various countries, immersive technologies are now being integrated into education systems to strengthen learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), allow students to experience abstract concepts in a tangible and interactive way, which increases their understanding and motivation for learning. For example, science classes can include virtual tours inside the human body or virtual space travel, which help students understand physical and biological principles. In mathematics, the use of these technologies allows for three-dimensional illustration of complex geometric problems, making it easier for students to grasp mathematical connections and structures. Applying these tools not only makes learning fun and intriguing, but also helps teachers teach more creatively and focus on each student's individual needs.
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Mathematics lesson in ImagineBox
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Support the Establishment of ImagineBox Classrooms in Schools!
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We invite you to refer to us heads of local authorities, directors of education departments in local authorities, and school principals interested in establishing ImagineBox classrooms in their schools. We also ask that you refer to us to businesspeople or companies interested in contributing to the establishment of an ImagineBox classroom in a school that is of importance to them.
To view a 2-minute video (in Hebrew) about ImagineBox, click here.
To receive more information and/or to donate, you can contact us through our English website or Hebrew website.
Your donation will help bring the ImagineBox “class of the future” to every teacher and student in Israel! Want to donate?
You can also donate via bank transfer.
For more information, please contact us by email at daphna@athenafund.org or by telephone at +972-3-677-5004.
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