REVIEW 2 2 World ORT Annual Review 2020 1

Executive Summary

World ORT Officers Board of Trustees One year ago, as we were preparing our General Assembly and the celebrations to mark our 140th President Anat Friedman Honorary Chair, General Assembly anniversary, we could not have imagined what the Dr. Conrad Giles Vivien de Gunzburg Gary Alexander Deputy President Robert Grey Honorary Chair, Academic future held. Today, we are so incredibly proud of Judy Menikoff Larry Kadis Advisory Counci Deputy President Howard Lanznar Dan Shechtman everyone in the ORT network – hundreds of thousands Simon Alberga Philippe Leopold-Metzger Honorary Vice Presidents of students, teachers and their families – for rising Arnold Munnich Alexander Asmolov Chair of the Board of Trustees Prof. Alexei Semenov Dorene Berger to meet the many challenges we have faced. Our Robert Singer Shelley Fagel Secretary & Deputy Chair of the Immediate Past President Reese Feldman meaningful mission is more important than ever Board of Trustees Mauricio Merikanskas Marc Hamon in these critical times. Robert Taub Honorary President Doreen Hermelin Treasurer Mauricio Merikanskas Mark Mishon Lawrence Wolfe Honorary Chair, Board of Trustees 1880 Society – Chair Director General & CEO Jean de Gunzburg Linda Kirschbaum Dan Green Honorary Chair, Board of The way in which the organization has responded has Representatives Moti Dotan demonstrated ORT at its best: all stakeholders working together to ensure that everyone continues to receive a seamless education, however challenging their current circumstances.

ORT professionals have ensured the appropriate courses, services and support are made available to our beneficiaries and their families worldwide. Our donors Contents and lay leaders have provided support by way of funding and wise counsel. And our students have demonstrated the depth of their resources, passing difficult tests with Executive Summary 1 Dr. Conrad Giles patience, spirit and good humor. President Who We Are 2 In the midst of the biggest global challenge in a century, Where We Are 4 directly impacting education, we also welcomed a Global Statistics 2020 6 Robert Singer new Director General and CEO and developed a new Chair, Board strategic plan to maximize our future success and ensure World ORT Updates 8 of Trustees that we are positioned to support our communities across the globe into self-sufficiency and achievement. Around Our Network 12 Our Fundraising Countries 20 Dan Green Innovation, imagination and cooperation have seen us Director General successfully meet the challenges of 2020 and will be the & CEO Financial Update 23 tools for our continued success through 2021 and beyond. In The Media 24 2 World ORT Annual Review 2020 Who we are World ORT Annual Review 2020 3

Who We Are Our Mission Our DNA

A global education network driven by Jewish values and innovation, preparing people and communities for meaningful, self-sufficient futures.

Education Global Jewish for Life Citizenship Experience

About ORT Our Values ORT has been transforming lives through training and education since 1880. From focusing on teaching 19th century Russian essential trades and professions, we Sustainability Integrity Innovation Tikkun Am – Our Future have evolved to provide 21st century skills Enabling the sustainable that empower individuals and strengthen flourishing of the Jewish people by investing in our identity, communities and Jewish life worldwide. culture, community, religion and State. Engaging young people Cooperation Passion Excellence The ORT network reaches more than to ensure they develop as proud, 200,000 people a year in schools, knowledgeable and active Jews, universities, and vocational training building a strong and viable Jewish future. programs, in more than 30 countries. We bridge the gap between ability and Versatility Tikkun Olam Tikkun Am opportunity by providing leading science and technology education. 4 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 5

Where We Are The Largest Global Jewish Education Network

Operational Countries: Argentina Belarus Brazil Bulgaria Chile Columbia Cuba Czech Republic Estonia Georgia Hungary Italy Kyrgyzstan Latvia Mexico Moldova Panama Peru Russia Singapore South Africa Spain Ukraine Uruguay

Fundraising Countries: Belgium Canada USA

Fundraising & Operational: The Netherlands UK

Argentinia Botswana Australia Albania Brasil Ethiopia China Belgium Hungary Russia Canada Gambia India Bulgaria Israel Spain Chile Ghana Philippines Croatia Italy Sweden Mexico Ivory Coast Czech Republic Latvia Switzerland Peru Nigeria Denmark Lithuania Ukraine Uruguay Senegal Estonia Luxembourg United Kingdom USA South Africa Finland Netherlands Venezuela Zaire France Norway 6 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 7

Global Statistics 2020

40 107,515 Schools Students 2 7,618 Universities Teachers 34 200,000+ Countries Beneficiaries

STEM Lessons Jewish Studies Higher Education

More than 178,000 hours More than 56,000 hours of More than 90% of of STEM lessons a year are Jewish studies lessons are students proceed to delivered by more than 6,000 delivered each year worldwide. higher education. teachers worldwide. 8 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 9

World ORT Updates Leading and Supporting

World ORT’s outstanding educational program sets our global network apart. Our dedicated educators, working from our global headquarters, plan, promote and execute unique programs for teachers and students every year.

In 2020 we adapted our signature City which created reusable smart More than 100 Virtual Volunteers training courses such as the gift bags. gave locked-down students LEAD program – which develops opportunities to develop their English leadership skills among school staff As Clara Laoui, from Milan, said, language skills and to learn from – to deliver meaningful professional “the Taub Young Entrepreneurship experts in a range of business fields. development online. In many cases Program taught me to problem participation increased, one of the solve and be creative with my tasks The volunteers led online sessions unexpected positives of remote in a way I had never experienced and masterclasses on networking, learning. Teachers and students before. Winning is on the list of leadership and much more. had more opportunities to come achievements I’m most proud of.” Students and teachers participated together, regardless of geographic in Europe, the Former , location. The innovation and passion of Israel and Latin America. ORT students also shone through Similarly, lockdowns didn’t hold in the Gina and Joseph Harmatz back the students in the World Awards for Social Responsibility. ORT Taub Young Entrepreneurship A group from CIM-ORT used their Program. The students developed design and technology skills to new communication skills and create a prosthetic arm for an Worldwide Covid work practices, switched to underprivileged boy who lost Impact Statistics: online activities, and the program his hand. They collected the top continued to its climactic grand prize, awarded to students who final in June. have distinguished themselves in their conduct towards others and Hundreds of devices The joint winners of the program, contributed to Tikkun Olam – our provided to students and which guides students to design shared responsibility to heal the teachers for distance a product that solves a social world. learning problem, were the team from the Scuola Della Comunità Ebraica in As part of our response to the 100 virtual volunteers Milan, which devised a crowd- pandemic, ORT mobilized to bring Tuition fee support based shipping platform, and together friends and supporters to to 630 families a team from CIM-ORT in Mexico contribute their time and expertise.

Yoni Diner, Teacher of Medical Sciences and Health Systems at Rabin School, Israel 10 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 11

World ORT Updates ORT 140: Growing our family “For 140 years ORT has developed the skills to adapt to whatever We have continued to grow the ORT family this year, extending circumstances we find ourselves our affiliation agreement with South Africa’s King David Schools A year to in,” said Dan Green, World ORT Director General and CEO. and welcoming Barcelona’s Colegio Hatikva school to the

Students united remotely to network. These affiliations – alongside those with schools in remember celebrate ORT Day in March countries including Singapore, the Netherlands, Italy, Peru, with postcard exchanges and a Czech Republic and Panama – show the diversity of education While 2020 was a year of unparalleled global quiz. That success laid the foundation for May’s first-ever institutions eager to join our pursuit of excellence. uncertainty and upheaval, its virtual General Assembly. More than 300 people heard how ORT challenges did not disrupt the spirit had adapted to the challenges of of ORT’s 140th anniversary celebrations the past four years, and elected the Board of Trustees for the next as we marked ORT’s founding in 1880 in four years.

St. Petersburg, Russia. Robert Singer, previously World ORT Director General and CEO, returned to ORT as Chair of the Board of Trustees and said he wanted ORT to become a key messenger of “new ideas, innovation and adaptation.”

In September, we premiered ‘The ORT Story’ – a documentary following the stories and lives of five current and former ORT students. Hundreds viewed the film virtually and gained a new appreciation for ORT’s long and impactful history.

Purim in Barcelona Tair, a graduate of the acclaimed robotics program in Dimona, Israel, who now studies at the Technion, paid tribute in the film to her ORT experience: “I knew nothing about robots, but my teacher always believed in me. I owe him everything. The effect of ORT on Dimona is huge. Just having that belief in our potential opened all the doors for us.”

Students in Odessa, Ukraine ORT140: Zaporozhye ORT140: Moscow Tair, Robotics Graduate, Dimona 12 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 13

Around Our Network

ORT’s new strategic vision is built on three pillars that are at the core of our mission: Education for Life, Global Citizenship and Jewish Experience. Read how the ORT network has been living these defining principles during 2020.

Our DNA

Education Global Jewish for Life Citizenship Experience

Providing students with the Preparing students to lead Ensuring Jewish continuity by skills to thrive through high- socially responsible lives. enriching Jewish education, quality teaching and training. identity and appreciation of ORT students develop an Jewish tradition, values and ORT programs prepare students increased understanding culture. for careers in developing of moral and ethical issues industries. As workplace beyond their geographic ORT schools are the primary opportunities rapidly evolve, boundaries, allowing them source of Jewish affiliation ORT teaches new skills needed to make better-informed for many students and their to gain and maintain expertise choices for themselves and families – providing a direct for employment in sought-after for society. connection to our religion, fields. history and culture. 14 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 15

Around Our Network Education for Life Providing students with the skills to thrive through high-quality teaching and training. ORT programs prepare students for careers in developing industries. As workplace opportunities rapidly evolve, ORT teaches new skills needed to gain and maintain expertise for employment in sought-after fields. Students at Ecology Summer School Panama Summer School fringes of the rainforest, gathering perspective on the issues. In one of the final in-person activities a deeper understanding of the At the closing session, Daniel before the pandemic struck, in natural environment, the importance Tysman, Head of ORT’s Education Students at Kfar Silver Youth Village Changing Lives in Israel February two dozen ORT students of conservation and engaging in Department, said: “The memories of Kfar Silver Youth Village, the travelled to Panama for our fifth scientific research. Site visits and this experience should always inspire hub of our activities in Israel annual Ecology Summer School. meetings with leading academics and the students to be more responsible and a flagship in our global Nominated by their schools across conservationists from the Smithsonian’s and to speak up on issues concerning programs, has received an Latin America and Spain, students Tropical Research Institute and other the environment and conservation.” unprecedented boost thanks to spent 12 days in Gamboa, on the prestigious institutions provided further a major infrastructure renovation project. The $11 million initiative, supported by the Gerald and Learning New Skills “What I learned at the ORT Gail Ronson Family Foundation Inna Korotayeva is the center keeps me alive today,” in Britain and other leading ORT personification of ‘Education for she explains. “I have lost my supporters worldwide, includes Life.’ Fifteen years ago she took a normal life and my social life – substantial development, repair computer literacy course at the ORT but the internet is saving me. and modernization of the kitchen Training Center in Yekaterinburg, My interaction with my children and dining hall complex and Russia. Now, at the age of 85, she overseas would have been Inna Korotayeva the Senior High and Junior High returned to ORT to acquire vital impossible without my new skills, school buildings. High-level STEM skills in online communications that as well as my internet purchases, educational programs prepare enabled her to connect with family news, and online broadcasts from students for future careers in the and friends during the pandemic. museums and theatres.” tech industry and beyond.

Dan Green, World ORT Director General and CEO, said: “The Village changes the lives of Educators’ Forum Empowering Syrian refugees in Greece its young residents. We are Throughout 2020, ORT leaders and Keynote speaker Pierre-Antoine determined to transform the teachers have been considering Ullmo, a renowned writer and Empowering Refugees village into a location in which how the impact of the Covid education specialist said ORT A grant from the Jewish hundreds of young people Uruguay’s Top University World ORT’s Academic Advisory pandemic will reshape education. had responded well to the crisis Coalition for Disaster Relief can thrive and realize their Universidad ORT Uruguay was Council, said: “This is a sign of This question was the theme of our thanks to its teachers’ ability to will allow ORT to expand the dreams. This is a hugely positive recognized as the country’s how persistence with quality virtual Educators’ Forum in May. solve problems. Dan Green told the vocational training we provide development.” top university in a prestigious education as the ultimate goal in More than 60 senior educators forum that ORT “leaves no student in Greek refugee camps. ORT’s international ranking in June. mind pays off. My heartiest and from 17 countries, representing behind” and worked hard to bring training programs empower Israel’s Education Minister Yoav The institution was 462nd in the heartfelt congratulations to CEO dozens of ORT schools, came education professionals from women refugees and provide Galant visited the Village in QS World University Rankings Professor Charlotte de Grünberg together to share learnings on new around the world together to share them with emotional support September and said it is an of 1,000 top universities from and Rector Dr. Jorge Grünberg teaching methodologies and share best practices. by teaching them sewing skills “exemplary” facility which acts around the world. Professor and all those who helped attain opportunities of online learning. and instruction on how to make as a role model for others. Sidney Strauss, Co-Chair of this remarkable achievement.” masks, dresses, toys, and more. 16 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 17

Around Our Network

Inspirational Innovation A group of Universidad ORT Uruguay students and graduates are developing Global Citizenship an app aimed at fighting loneliness. Similar to dating Preparing students to lead socially responsible lives. apps, it creates friendship ORT students develop an increased understanding of moral and opportunities. Based on an original idea which won a ethical issues beyond their geographic boundaries, allowing them contest organized by ORT to make better-informed choices for themselves and for society. and the United Nations, participants were challenged to create innovative proposals to improve the country’s quality of life.

One in a Million Georgiy Fyalo, an 11th grader at ORT Mishpahteinu school in Kazan, Russia, was one of the 300 winners of a prestigious national competition with nearly one million competitors. The “Big Change” project, Students 3D printing masks in Moldova one of Russia’s leading youth competitions, asks students to envisage Shipping Aid to Cuba Changing the World from Home Making Masks in Moldova future developments in city Sanctions have caused Cuba’s A group of students from An ORT student and graduate in Building hope with LEGO planning, entrepreneurship, economy to suffer for decades our award-winning robotics Kishinev, Moldova, volunteered volunteering, healthy lifestyles and its people now face severe program in Dimona created their time and expertise to help Leading the way in South Africa “My pension is the only income I and more. Georgiy’s project food and medicine shortages the ‘Read My Lips’ mask which make protective equipment ORT teams across South Africa have. I’ve got five grandchildren visualized a city of the future. due to the pandemic’s travel has a transparent front panel for doctors working with Covid embodied the spirit of Tikkun staying with me as my children He said: “I want my future restrictions. In October ORT allowing those who are deaf or patients. Nikolai Nezhintsev and Olam throughout 2020. are unemployed. I never thought to be in IT technologies and raised awareness and funds for have other hearing impairments Sandu Chirita assisted with a A remarkable 10,000 sets of that I’d have to rely on food innovation. Right from the critical supplies to be shipped to to read the lips of the person national project to turn snorkeling educational LEGO Six Bricks donations, but when I received beginning, ORT has helped the island’s Jewish community. wearing the mask to protect masks into protective visors building kits have been distributed the food parcel, it was most lay the foundations of my Colegio Isaac Rabin, ORT’s against Covid-19. Developed in using plastic adapters made to underprivileged children and appreciated by all of us.“ dream to be a programmer. affiliate school in Panama, also May, the team worked tirelessly on 3D printers at the ORT Herzl young refugees by ORT SA CAPE I have a real desire to connect collected hundreds of items alongside experts from Ben- Technology Lyceum. in the Cape Town region. In Johannesburg and the my future with technology. I’m such as masks, sanitizer and Gurion University of the Negev to surrounding area, ORT SA very grateful to ORT.” medicines. The donations were make the masks a reality. “We were happy that we could ORT SA was also at the forefront coordinated a campaign to due to be shipped to Cuba in be engaged with something of efforts to provide food provide students with laptops early 2021. Team captain Roi Ledany: “It is important and necessary for other assistance to those in need and other devices in an effort reusable, washable and can be people.” said Sandu Chirita, ORT throughout the pandemic. Since to close the country’s digital sterilized, and is easy to breathe graduate currently studying at the April, the food relief program divide. Members of the public, in. It is transparent in front and Moscow Institute of Physics and provided thousands of meals businesses and other ORT is designed not to fog up from Technology. Nikolai explained: “This each week for students and supporters donated laptops, people’s breath. What’s more, it is a way to be useful and possibly families with little or no income. smartphones and tablets is comfortable and affordable. to save someone’s life. We would that are no longer in use. ORT We believe we can change the not be able to do this without the Fazlin Abel, a 63-year-old distributed the devices to a world, even from home.” equipment provided by ORT, thanks recipient of the ORT-backed primary school as part of the to which we could not only print the food donations shared her project. appreciation: The ‘Read My Lips’ mask parts, but also do this from home.” Georgiy Fyalo, Big Change winner 18 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 19

Around Our Network

A Taste of Israel Students at CIM-ORT in Mexico held a virtual Yom Ha’atzmaut breakfast celebration to mark Jewish Experience Israeli Independence Day. Parents were sent a falafel recipe Ensuring Jewish continuity by enriching Jewish education, in advance so that students and their families could make and identity and appreciation of Jewish tradition, values and culture. eat the falafel together over ORT schools are the primary source of Jewish affiliation for many Zoom, sing Israeli songs and discuss the meaning of the day. students and their families – providing a direct connection to our The ceremony ended with the religion, history and culture. communal singing of Hativkah.

Happy Holidays A Sweet Celebration Our ‘Let’s Celebrate’ series Celebrating Pesach in Estonia with a mock seder at home ORT schools in Moscow shared brought students together a Rosh Hashanah initiative to mark Jewish festivals and hand-delivering small jam jars holidays. For Pesach, students By Students, for Students A Memorial for Macedonia to elderly Jews. Youngsters took home activity lists to Students planned a remote Lag ORT marked Chanukah from the ‘Tekhiya’ school made enhance their family Seder, B’Omer celebration, with 40 by supporting a project almost 200 jars. It is hoped shared a masterclass led by students joining an afternoon of dedicated to the memory of the project will become a new a student rabbi looking at the interactive games led by alumni North Macedonian Jewry. The school tradition at the start of meaning behind the festival, of the 2019 World ORT STEM ‘1,000 Chanukah Candles of each Jewish year. and used an ORT Haggadah. Summer School. Split into small Remembrance’ campaign groups to solve puzzles, find clues called on people across the and finish tasks in the fastest world to light the menorah time, they gained a first-hand on the eighth night of the Fighting Hatred appreciation of cooperation and festival in dedication to the In October, World ORT joined The Sinitsyn family celebrate Pesach in Ukraine innovation. The collaborations once prosperous community thousands of governments, continued through Chanukah, of 8,000 people which was NGOs, cultural and social with an international group almost completely destroyed movements and organizations working together to create a during the Holocaust. when it adopted the short video on the origins of the International Holocaust festival of lights. Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.

Remembering the Past World ORT partnered with International March of the Living’s ‘Let There Be Light’ initiative

Preparing for Shabbat to mark the anniversary of in November. The campaign encouraged solidarity in the fight against anti-Semitism, racism, hatred and intolerance and called on members of the public, houses of worship and organizations to keep a light on in their homes, offices, and synagogues on November 9. Chanukah in Estonia Shaking the lulav in Kiev Bringing light to Bishkek 20 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 21

Our Fundraising Countries Fundraising in 2020 In a year when we celebrated ORT’s 140th anniversary, we confirmed that our mission is as important today as it was in 1880. In these critical times we pulled together to make sure the educational needs of ORT students and educators were met as the pandemic spread around the globe.

ORT America

ORT America pivoted to online platforms and offered engaging programming to supporters and friends around the country. The goal was to highlight the many ways in which ORT provides critical ORT UK education and Jewish values to its global network. More than 300 students, parents, teachers and mentors joined the Some highlights included: online graduation for ORT UK’s The launch of ORT in Conversation, JUMP program which matches a forum for international experts in ORT America’s Annual Meeting – Thank you for participating and school students with professional the U.S. and abroad to discuss the Tomorrow Starts Today – offered a contributing to make these virtual mentors. challenges and opportunities of dynamic multimedia presentation gatherings informative, meaningful COVID-19 to improve learning and and breakout sessions that were and successful. The annual course was completed teaching. The first guest speaker hosted by eight ORT students and remotely after the pandemic was Randi Weingarten, President alumni from six countries. brought an end to in-person work of American Federation of Teachers, placement sessions. The 2021 who shared the virtual stage with Sponsorship of Unorthodox, the program has a record number ORT America President and CEO Podcast with special guest, Mayim of applicants and ORT UK has Barbara Birch, to discuss how to Bialik, best known for her role in the expanded the number of partner implement education amidst a Big Bang Theory. Mayim embodies schools to allow even more pandemic. ORT values in her commitment to students to take part. education, love of science and At ORT UK’s annual gala in Interactive educational initiatives in devotion to the Jewish experience. October, British comedian and the U.S. were facilitated by World ORT writer David Baddiel discussed Kadima Mada instructors, building on A variety of regional events contemporary anti-Semitism and our engagement with camps. Future rounded out the year with the threat of social media trolls. partnering with schools and camps something for everyone. The virtual event – with almost will provide additional programs in 1,000 participants – launched 2021 throughout the U.S. ORT UK’s centenary celebrations and explored its activities over the past 100 years – including its role Thank you to all of our supporters in rescuing 106 ORT students from in 1939. 22 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 23

Our Fundraising Countries Financial Update

ORT Belgium Despite the pandemic causing the 2020 Fundraising Income ($’000) cancellation of a number of events planned by ORT Belgium – such as a visit to Auschwitz and the annual trip to Kfar Silver – the organization continued to strengthen throughout $41,408 Israeli Government the year, maintaining and growing its supporter base. & Other Income

New communications will inform $5,845 Fundraising Restricted supporters about World ORT $3,869 Fundraising Unrestricted activities as well as news and information from around the global $1,833 Jewish Federations network on a regular basis. of North America (JFNA) ORT Belgium is gearing up to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2021.

2020 Expenditure ($’000) ORT Canada ORT Switzerland Driven by a passionate volunteer Our fundraising teams in Canada Photography program in locations team, ORT Suisse focused its 2020 took advantage of the challenges across Israel continued. ORT Canada fundraising on helping schools, 79% Israel posed by the pandemic to create is creating an Israel Photography teachers, students and families new opportunities throughout 2020. Book to raise further funds. overcome the challenges presented 14% FSU by Covid-19. Leaders strengthened links with Looking ahead, ORT Canada plans 5% Global Education Programs donors and local community to host innovative programming and A record number of donors 1% Latin America Programs organizations and shifted their a hybrid approach to fundraising will contributed to campaigns in the approach to fundraising activities. promote both virtual and in-person spring and fall, benefiting both 1% Western Europe A new event – the Cycle for events. These are likely to include golf World ORT and ORT France. Richmond – in Vancouver in August tournaments in Toronto and a major 0.2% Others proved hugely popular, with more online gala for Montreal. Events included a webinar with than 40 riders taking part, and will Professor Arnold Munnich, head of be repeated in 2021. ORT France, and in-person activities such as a ski day, movie premiere Donors in Canada supported World and dinner are being rescheduled ORT’s Covid-19 immediate needs for 2021. In 2020, ORT Suisse Delivery cost 6.5% of expenditure campaign. reconnected with historic supporters and identified new foundations George Fisher’s five-year to contribute to ORT activities commitment to ORT’s YOUniversity worldwide. 24 World ORT Annual Review 2020 World ORT Annual Review 2020 25

In the Media

Adapting to changing times for 140 years Dr. Moisés Salinas Fleitman: Olive Trees March 20, 2020 ORT in the 21st Century planted at “If we are really placed here as world) via World ORT’s worldwide April 10, 2020 Kfar Silver individuals to help repair the world,” educational programs, which have says Dr. Conrad Giles, president of been a vital part of the Jewish world “ORT Mexico has done and continues May 19, 2020 World ORT, “what better way to do since 1880. to do very important work in areas like that but by educating individuals human rights, addiction prevention, and permitting them to be as This year, World ORT is celebrating productive as possible?” its 140th birthday, and though it has and educational innovation among postponed its general assembly others. We just completed a three- Giles, mild and soft-spoken, is firmly because of the spread of the year project for the United States committed to the concept of tikkun coronavirus, its accomplishments Agency for International Development olam (repairing and improving the are not diminished in any way by the (USAID) working with about 40 human postponement of the celebrations. rights organizations in the Mexico-US border region.”

A total of 25 olive trees were planted at a ceremony in Israeli teens use 3D printer to create lip-reading friendly face mask southern Israel to honor the May 7, 2020 memory of Lori Gilbert-Kaye, 60, who was shot and killed by a A doctoral student teamed up with Carolina Tannenbaum-Baruchi worked lone teenage gunman on April secondary school pupils in Israel on the project with Maayan Levin, who 27, 2019 during Shabbat morning to create a Covid-19 face mask is a mentor on a robotics programme services on the last day of designed to make it possible to lip- led by World ORT. Dan Green, World Managing a worldwide educational Passover at Chabad of Poway read during the pandemic. ORT’s director general and CEO, said: in Southern California. Three The mask, dubbed “Read My Lips”, “The creativity shown by our students network during a pandemic others were injured in the attack. features a transparent front panel, involved in this remarkable project July 23, 2020 The ceremony took place at Kfar is reusable and can be sterilised. It is is the perfect example of how ORT’s Silver Youth Village, part of the specifically designed for those with innovative spirit gives young people the World ORT Kadima Mada school hearing impairments and who read tools they need to make a difference in network, where local children lips to communicate. the world.” helped plant the trees. Dan Green, World ORT Acting Director General and CEO, said: “The scourge of anti-Semitism has increased rapidly across the world in recent years, including in many countries where ORT Mikhail Libkin: “Russia can be proud of the ORT system” schools operate.

Issue #6, April 2020 Like many non-profit educational at home to remain connected. “It is vital that all of us work ORT was created in 1880 in St. organization that supports educational organizations today, World ORT In April, ORT launched a program together to combat this hatred, Petersburg, moved beyond the initiatives primarily in Jewish schools, is attempting to meet the unique entitled “Virtual Volunteers” in in memory of Lori Gilbert-Kaye’s Russian borders, and then left although not exclusively Jewish. These fundraising challenges caused which the organization’s supporters heroic actions, and in memory the USSR altogether. But in 1991 it initiatives are primarily related to by COVID-19. The organization interacted with students and taught of all those whose lives have returned to the country. Director technological education – everything approached its supporters to obtain seminars on Zoom on English, been lost or forever changed of ORT in Russia Mikhail Libkin is that is now called STEAM fields: computers for those students who did entrepreneurship and networking by senseless anti-Semitism.” fascinated by the history of the science, technology, engineering, not have a computer available in the job market. organization, trawls its archives arts, mathematics. Like founder and loves to talk about his findings. Nikolai Bakst, we strive to ensure that “In Russia, ORT is a non-profit education in Jewish schools gives their graduates the best future possible.” Contact

World ORT Administrative Office 126 Albert Street London, NW1 7NE United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)20 7446 8500 Fax: +44 (0)20 7446 8650 Email: [email protected] ort.org

To connect with ORT around the world visit ort.org/countries