The Story Behind the Company
By Petra van der
Zande
“A
hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of
house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different
because I was important in the life of a child.” Forest E. Witcraft (1894-1967) Teacher, Scholar
THE ES-SENSE OF HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Aurit and Shai Ya’akov are an Israeli couple with three children, two of them autistic. The couple believes that every person has the right to be treated properly and that everyone should donate to society. Even people with physical and mental disabilities. When given the right tools, and guided by people with lots of patience, those with special needs could also contribute to society.
In 2009, Es-Sense began in one room with two autistic adults and four local high school
Es-Sense also reaches out to Kitot Tikshoret students from Jerusalem. The communications-based classrooms are designed to give extra support to children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. A class can have 2-3 children, with a maximum of 7.
Providing work for autistic adults is a challenge. At Es-Sense, each worker receives a job that fits his or her level of functioning. From soap production to packaging, each stage is developed with their potential in mind.
If necessary, a specific job is created for a worker with limited possibilities. This is the reason why Es-Sense uses so many different types of boxes for their products.
Working with autistics makes it necessary to work without poison – everything is 'safe'.
All Es-Sense products are natural and based on home-grown herbs and plants. Es-Sense creams only contain natural preservatives like essence of myrrh or frankincense.
Presently, Es-Sense produces over 200 types of soap and body products. (More than 30 kinds of olive soaps.) They can manufacture whatever shape or scent a customer wants: from 3D company logos to custom made scents.
DID YOU KNOW?
· 99.96% of the soap and body products are organic. 0.04 % are natural preservatives.
· Our products are not tested on animals; they are paraben free and SLS free.
· Es-Sense is also a research institute. They have joint projects with the Jerusalem Botanical Garden and Machon Volcani.
· Es-Sense exports to Canada, Singapore, Ukraine, Russia, Finland, South-Africa, Hong Kong, USA and Taiwan.
· If Es-Sense receives more long-term orders, they can provide another 50 jobs for autistic adults.
How You Can Help
· Share this article with others· Buy or order products from Es-Sense· Bring a (small) group of friends to visit the Es-Sense workshop in Ein Kerem. (Big groups are too stressful for the workers. They are not for show.)· Volunteer your time: a few hours, a day, a week or a month. You can help weeding the field, work with the animals or make soap. People don't have to speak Hebrew. The aim is to interact with the autistic workers and the students.· Take part in the Es-Sense Experience: see the workshop and interact with the autistic workers and the high school students.
If you would like to read more about autism, click on this link:
CONTACT INFORMATION
WORKSHOP (Sabonya) EIN KEREM
Visits by appointment only
Phone:
052– 6008899
050- 2430060
Final stop Bus 28 alef to Ein Kerem
Agricultural School
JERUSALEM STORE:
Rachel Imenu 6, German Colony,
Jerusalem.
HOURS:
Sunday—Thursday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday: 9.00 am—2.30 pm
Closed on Shabbat.
Phone: (972) 2-6274772
Email: info.essense@gmail.com
Website: http://www.es-sense.co.il
Facebook: Es Sense
Twitter: @ Es_Sense
