Shluvim – The Association for Educational Equal Opportunities was founded in 2004 to further the integration and empowerment of children with behavioral, emotional, and cognitive difficulties. The Association’s activities focus on the advancement of equal opportunities in education and the integration of children with special needs into society, while working to establish equality between the various sectors in Israeli society. Shluvim works in schools in southern and central Israel with economically deprived populations. Its main project, “Yadiim” (Hands), works with children who have a variety of behavioral disorders. It is an unique empowerment program for the treatment of behavioral problems that uses animal-based therapy. Other programs work with children with special needs and their educators and parents.