The Knesset goes to the periphery: Talking heads and the 'House of the People' branding'

June 22, 2014   

This morning (Sunday) the Knesset 'went out' to the northern periphery: In an innovative move, the Knesset is currently launching a project of educational activity, not only within the Knesset, as has been the case until now, but also in the field, mainly in the periphery, in the spirit of a 'democracy experience' for children and youth.

The program launched today will include teams of guides from the Knesset Visitors' Center going to cities and peripheral communities - to experience, to schools and wards where children are hospitalized for long-term hospitalization in hospitals, and will engage them in experiential educational activities, during which they will learn about the activities of the Knesset.

To this end, various activity kits were produced for each age, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

The Knesset instructors set out in a 'Knesset vehicle' – a branded vehicle carrying designed and diverse activity kits, for experiential and educational guidance. The activity content is tailored to the activities provided to each age group during a visit to the Knesset.

The first two schools the visitors' center visited today are the Al-Manara Arab School in Acre and the Givat Ram Jewish School in Kiryat Ata.

The launch was attended by Knesset Speaker Yoel (Yuli) Edelstein, Knesset Director General Ronen Plot, Knesset members, visitors' center employees, and school students. "We are embarking on a new and challenging path in which the Knesset goes outside the framework to meet with the people," said the Knesset Speaker. "In doing so, we will add another special layer to the branding of the Knesset as the 'House of the People,' which maintains a meaningful and engaged dialogue with its citizens.".

The activity includes a 'Talking Heads' game, during which students will get to know key positions in the Knesset - the Speaker of the Knesset, MKs, and the Prime Minister.

In the Ladders and Ropes game, students will learn about the process of passing a bill in the Knesset, get to know the plenary hall and the democratic processes that take place there, understand the principle of representation through play - and watch a video in which the Speaker of the Knesset speaks to them.

About 160,000 people visit the Knesset annually, and since the Visitor Center was established about two and a half years ago, the number of visitors has tripled. The variety of designated routes for many and diverse target audiences, for different ages, in several languages, as well as tours intended for people with disabilities, brings a diverse audience to the building, who become acquainted with the work of the Knesset and learn a lot about its activities and the interface between the Knesset and the citizen.

עם זאת, בכנסת מבקשים לפעול בכל דרך על מנת להגביר המודעות לעבודת הכנסת ולערכי דמוקרטיה. מנכ"ל הכנסת רונן פלוט: "קיבלנו החלטה שהכנסת תצא ותגיע אל אוכלוסיות חדשות, בשטח ובפריפריה. חשוב לנו לעשות מאמץ להגיע לכל מקום ולהציג לילדים את 'חוויית הדמוקרטיה' של הכנסת ואנו חשים שההתנסות תיתן לילדים את ההבנה עד כמה עבודת הכנסת משמעותית, גם לכל נערה ונער. אנחנו בטוחים שהחוויה שילדים אלו יעברו, תגרום להם להגיע במהרה ולבקר אצלנו במשכן הכנסת". [גלריה]