Reducing Suffering, Building Resilience A Digest of Jewish and Israeli Humanitarian Aid Organizations MAY 2016

May 2016

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About OLAM and SID-Israel

OLAM is a shared platform for promoting global Jewish service and international development. Founded by the Alliance for Global Good, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Pears Foundation in March 2015, OLAM is a broad coalition of 44 partner organizations, working together to raise awareness in the global Jewish community of the importance of supporting the world’s most vulnerable communities and to improve the quality of our work on the ground. Our coalition partners are Jewish and Israeli organizations engaged in humanitarian aid, international development, volunteerism and social justice advocacy. OLAM connects our coalition partners to each other; communicates their work to the broader Jewish community; and convenes communal leaders to increase Jewish involvement and impact in the global sphere. www.olamtogether.org

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Jewish and Israeli Humanitarian Aid Organizations Digest

SID-Israel is the Israeli branch of the Society for International Development (SID), a global forum of individuals and organizations in the field of sustainable economic and social development. Founded in 1957, SID currently boasts over 3,000 members in 80 countries and 45 branches around the world. SID influences developmentrelated policy by virtue of its special consultative status in various international organizations, including: UNFPA, UNICEF, ILO, FAO, ECOSOC, UNEP and others. SID-Israel is an umbrella organization with 66 member organizations, which works with the Israeli government and Israeli humanitarian actors. We aim to galvanize Israeli society to broad involvement in the field of international development and foreign aid through the creation of a platform for professional joint action and dialogue. SID-Israel promotes and advances study, professional trainings, capacitybuilding and local and international networking and acts to create an enabling environment for individuals, organizations, and government agencies in Israel in the field of international development and aid work. www.sid-israel.org

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Digest of Jewish and Israeli Humanitarian Aid Organizations This booklet features the work of 13 Jewish and Israeli non-profit organizations active in humanitarian aid today. In reading these profiles, you will immediately be struck by the diversity of organizations in this field. Although few in number, these organizations differ in many ways. Some have been in existence since the 19th century; others are barely a decade old. Some have a staff of more than one hundred personnel; others have no paid staff at all. For some, crossborder, humanitarian aid is their core mandate. For others, it is a small percentage of their work. Yet, despite these differences, the organizations are united in one significant way: they are all working to reduce suffering and build resilience for the world’s most vulnerable populations, irrespective of religion, nation, or creed. The wide variety of projects and organizations in this list speaks volumes about the diversity of opportunities for engaging with the field. No matter what it is you’re looking for, there’s something in here for you.

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Jewish and Israeli Humanitarian Aid Organizations Digest

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OUR METHODOLOGY This booklet is not a comprehensive list of all Jewish and Israeli organizations working in the field of humanitarian aid. In preparing the digest, we contacted our relevant member organizations and collated information about all who responded in one booklet. The information provided, including descriptions of projects, is their own. We have not endeavored to verify or clarify and have instead let the organizations speak for themselves. There has been no screening or vetting, and we invite all readers to make their own inquiries. Due to space constraints, we have provided only basic information about each organization listed. With rare exception, the project locations listed are those from the past decade. We encourage you to visit the websites of each organization for more information.

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Jewish and Israeli Humanitarian Aid Organizations Digest

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American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC or the Joint) is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. Since 1914, JDC has exemplified that all Jews are responsible for one another and for improving the wellbeing of vulnerable people around the world. Today, JDC is active in more than 70 countries. JDC’s humanitarian efforts emphasize aid/disaster response and international/human development programs. Over the years, JDC has forged meaningful relationships with exceptional partners to create innovative solutions to dire needs, maximize sustainable impact, and enhance local organizational capacity. Established: 1914 Location of projects: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Liberia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine www.jdc.org | [email protected]

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American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international organization motivated by Jewish values and committed to realizing human rights and ending poverty for marginalized people in the developing world. AJWS funds over 500 grassroots groups and their strategic allies in 19 countries to work on civil and political rights, natural resource rights, and sexual health and reproductive rights, and AJWS responds to global disasters in countries where it has connections to be able to make a difference. In the United States, AJWS works with various stakeholders in the Jewish community (individuals, clergy, congregations and key opinion leaders) and with other allies to influence American and global laws and policies to advance human rights in the developing world. Through our advocacy online, in Washington, D.C. and through our Global Justice Fellowship, AJWS has furthered major causes - from advancing peace in Darfur to securing increased food aid to struggling nations, to reducing violence against women worldwide. Established: 1985 Location of projects: Burma, Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda www.ajws.org | [email protected]

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CADENA (Comité de Ayuda a Desastres y Emergencias Nacionales) is the humanitarian aid organization of the Jewish Community of Mexico. The organization is based in Mexico City but works throughout the country whenever there is an emergency or disaster. CADENA staff and volunteers have also traveled abroad when major disasters strike. In addition to the 104 missions inside Mexico, international relief projects include: the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the 2010 drought in Kenya, the 2011 earthquake in Guatemala, the 2011 earthquake in Turkey, the 2013 typhoon in the Philippines, the 2014 fire in Chile, the 2015 earthquake in Nepal and the 2016 earthquake in Ecuador. Each international mission is different; depending on the disaster, CADENA may send a rescue team and equipment, first aid relief, or water filters. Established: 2005 Location of projects: Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, Turkey www.cadena.org.mx | [email protected]

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HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and freedom. HIAS works in 11 countries on 5 continents to protect the most vulnerable refugees, help them build new lives, and reunite them with their families in safety and freedom. We advocate for the protection of refugees and assure that displaced people are treated with dignity. Guided by our Jewish values and history, we bring more than 130 years of expertise to our work with refugees. HIAS offers: legal protection – ensuring that refugees know their rights and have access to legal assistance; psychosocial support – helping refugees to address the fear, isolation, and depression that can result from their experiences; and pathways to livelihoods – assisting refugees in their country of first asylum or permanent resettlement to become self-sufficient through entrepreneurship, vocational training, and employment.​ Established: 1881 Location of projects: Austria, Chad, Ecuador, Greece, Israel, Kenya, Panama, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela www.hias.org | [email protected]

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Israeli Flying Aid (IFA) is a non-profit, volunteer based, non-governmental organization, which delivers life-saving aid to communities struck by natural disaster and human conflict. IFA operates in places where local regimes prevent the entry of international humanitarian organizations, focusing on countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel; and transcends differences, prejudices, race, nationality religion, and creed. Established: 2005 Location of projects: Burma, Chechnya, Georgia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, United States www.ifaid.com | [email protected]

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The Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) is a non-profit organization partnering with over 40 NGOs to create a continuum of care in the fields of trauma, response and preparedness. Harnessing the collective knowledge and experience of Israel’s leading NGOs and governmental bodies, the ITC strengthens community resilience, ensures emergency preparedness, empowers local leadership, and builds capacity. A cornerstone of Israel's national trauma care and preparedness program, the ITC was instrumental in establishing 5 Resilience Centers in the Gaza envelope and has developed an innovative model of Regional Training Centers. It invests heavily in training, so that self-coping skills minimize post-trauma symptoms, replace dependence on medication and maximize individual and communal resilience. Israel's extensive experience with crisis makes its experts among the most knowledgeable worldwide. When disaster strikes globally, the ITC shifts into high gear to share its expertise with others, jump-starting long-term processes. Established: 2001 Location of projects: Chechnya, France, Haiti, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, United States www.israeltraumacoalition.org | [email protected] 16 Jewish and Israeli Humanitarian Aid Organizations Digest

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Lev Echad – Community Crisis Aid is the only volunteer organization in Israel whose sole purpose is to recruit, deploy and manage volunteers during emergency situations. Lev Echad was founded on the belief that recruiting civilian volunteers during emergency situations has the power to transform those impacted by crisis into socially active, resilient citizens. Working closely with the local municipality, Israel's National Emergency Authority, and the Home Front Command, Lev Echad provides local authorities with a professionally-run volunteer recruitment and deployment operation, enabling the effective deployment thousands of new volunteers at a time. Since its establishment, Lev Echad has recruited and managed over 26,000 civilian volunteers in crisis situations. Established: 2006 Location of projects: Israel, Serbia www.levechad.org | [email protected]

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Mifalot is the largest and most diverse sports for development and peace organization in the Middle East, serving over 30,000 children and youth in Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan each year. Since its establishment by the owners of Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club in 1997, Mifalot has brought its locally-gained knowledge and experience to disaster relief situations around the world, including: the 2009 earthquake in Haiti, the 2012 typhoon in the Philippines, and the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Mifalot's focus is using sports as a tool to overcome traumatic situations through self-empowerment, building leadership skills, raising self-esteem and maintaining a routine. Working with local partners, Mifalot designs tailor-made, socio-educational programs, enabling individuals to deal with complex situations, post-traumatic symptoms and relieve pressure. Established: 1997 Location of projects: Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Haiti, India, Israel, Jordan, Nigeria, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda www.mifalot.com | [email protected]

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Natan – International Humanitarian Aid is a registered association, which leads and coordinates a network of Israeli relief NGOs committed to assisting communities facing humanitarian crisis around the world. Natan specializes in relief aid and rehabilitation in the fields of medical emergency, trauma and post-trauma treatment, and community development and resiliency. Working shoulder to shoulder with local organizations, Natan deploys teams of skilled professionals within 48 to 72 hours after a disaster. These professionals all serve on a voluntary basis. Natan prides itself on a holistic approach that accesses even the most remote villages. Established: 1968 Location of projects: Georgia, Haiti, India, Jordan, Nepal, Philippines, Serbia, Sri Lanka www.natan-iha.org | [email protected]

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SSF – Rescuers Without Borders is a non-governmental organization, whose goal is to be of medical assistance as quickly as possible after natural disasters or conflicts around the world, as well as give local populations first-aid training. In the past 11 years, SSF has treated over 15,000 people in 17 countries impacted by natural disasters. Location of projects: Burma, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kurdistan, Mali, Nepal, Palestinian territories, Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka www.sauveteurs.org | [email protected]

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Tevel B'Tzedek (Tevel) is both an Israeli NGO and a registered INGO in Nepal. The organization has been working in holistic, sustainable development in Nepali villages through its local partner, Nyayik Sansar, since 2010. Following the April 2015 earthquake, Tevel committed to a three-year recovery plan in rural areas affected by the quake, focusing on: income generation and agriculture livelihood; youth leaders in villages; and shelter support. In addition, Tevel also provides psycho-social support and helps communities better prepare for disasters. In total, Tevel is currently working with 25,000 beneficiaries in four earthquake-impacted districts in Nepal. Established: 2007 Location of projects: Burundi, Nepal www.tevelbtzedek.org | [email protected]

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ToWo Group provides psycho-physical tools in trauma-ridden areas, working with refugees, displaced people, and field staff of humanitarian aid organizations. The ToWo Group's researchbased techniques are grounded in the practice of mindfulness and provide the ability to return to the present moment, reduce stress, regain a sense of control and self-regulation, and encourage communication. The ToWo Group is a multicultural, multilingual group of Israeli and Palestinian women. The ToWo Group facilitators work directly with people impacted by trauma and train therapists to use tools aimed to build personal and communal resilience. Established: 2005 Location of projects: Ireland, Israel, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey www.towogroup.blogspot.com | [email protected]

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As the UK Jewish community’s international humanitarian agency, World Jewish Relief combats poverty among the world’s most vulnerable Jewish communities and beyond. Last year, World Jewish Relief supported programmes in 20 countries, reaching 68,000 people. Our poverty-reduction programmes enable people who are unemployed to decrease dependence on charitable hand-outs, instead giving them the opportunities to earn a living. We also ensure that older people needing immediate support are cared for, whilst bringing them together to address loneliness and forge a sense of community. We act on behalf of Britain’s Jewish community when international disasters occur, responding to the immediate and longer-term recovery needs of those affected. We are currently working in Nepal postearthquake and in Greece and Turkey helping tens of thousands of people affected by the refugee crisis. Established: 1933 Location of projects: Former Soviet Union, Greece, India, Philippines, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Turkey www.worldjewishrelief.org | [email protected]

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CREDITS * OLAM and SID-Israel are both proud to partner with MASHAV – Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, who have kindly agreed to distribute this booklet at the World Humanitarian Summit * Certain elements of the format and content of this booklet were taken from “Global Citizens Changing the World: An Overview of Jewish Organizations in the Fields of CrossBorder Volunteering, Service Learning, International Development and Social Justice Advocacy” written by Yedida Wolfe on behalf of OLAM in March 2015 * Photos p 1 (cover): HIAS, Glenna Gordon p 5 (clockwise from top left): CADENA; Tevel; JDC; World Jewish Relief, Minos Alchanati p 7:

AJWS, courtesy of ADWAN

p 9: JDC p 11: AJWS, Jonathan Torgovnik p 13: CADENA p 17: World Jewish Relief, Josh Simons p 21: Natan p 23: SFF - Rescuers Without Borders p 27: Lev Echad May 2016

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OLAM is a joint venture of the Alliance for Global Good, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and Pears Foundation.

SID-Israel is generously supported by Pears Foundation.

www.olamtogether.org

www.sid-israel.org

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