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World

ORT America Solidarity

South American mission reveals student success.

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RT America's Solidarity Mission to
South America was not a typical
tourist trip for four mission-goers
from the Michigan Region. The recent visit
to Argentina, Uruguay and Chile offered an
insider's view of the Jewish communities of
Montevideo, Buenos Aries and Santiago as
well as a firsthand look at the ORT facilities
in these cities.
"This was an unforgettable experience
for us — from the engineering robotic
programming course to the communica-
tions and design course where students will
be able to learn animation with the people
who established DreamWorks," said Doreen
Hermelin of Bingham Farms, national presi-
dent of ORT America.
Participants agreed the star attractions
Nicole Kovacs and mission participant Marcy Wiseberg
were the students, who are able to live with
of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., participate in a mock inter-
dignity and hope because of the skills they
viewing session at ORT's Belgrano's radio studio facili-
receive because of ORT members' generosity.
ties. ORT students enrolled in Belgrano's communications
There were visits with tec hnology students Doreen Hermelin plays a virtual soccer game with a young
studies benefit from its music recording studio, radio
whose education enabled them to design
student at ORT's Belgrano School in Buenos Aires, one of two
station, TV studio, computer engineering facilities, indus-
an "eye mouse"Webcam system to enable
large Jewish technical junior high and high schools run by ORT
trial design rooms and software labs and an online virtual
severely disabled people to use their head-
in this city. Students used their technological expertisito cre-
campus (campus.ort.edu.ar).
and-eye movements to send e-mail, write
ate this innovative virtual game.
documents and control their computers.
Business students shared the new anti-flu
sanitizing product they are marketing and
they are learning to actual problem solving."
pus, ORT America mission-goers toured
available."
industrial design students who were refur-
"It's incredible to see these students grasp
the ORT Almagro campus in Buenos Aires,
The Michigan group met with students
bishing cars with Bluetooth dashboards.
onto what is being taught to them ... and
met senior ORT Argentina lay leaders, were
and visited one of the scores of state schools
"ORT Argentina schools are on the cut-
how we as donors afford them this opportu-
introduced to Jewish community figures and whose science facilities have been upgraded
ting-edge, constantly seeking new challenges nity,' Bernard said.
went sightseeing. But the highlight for many
by ORT Chile in an ongoing project funded
to offer students the widest possible range of
Nicole Kovacs, Next Generation mission
was meeting some of the 5,900 students,
by the Coca-Cola Foundation.
learning experiences developed in real-life
chair from West Bloomfield, came away very most of whom are able to attend the schools
"Returning home from our South America
situations and with the involvement of out-
impressed by the students she met and the
because money raised by the international
adventure, we came away re-energized by
standing professionals': Hermelin said. "With programs she saw in action.
ORT family helps pay their tuition fees.
everything we saw and did, with a deeper
each project, the motivation of teachers, stu-
"I was blown away by how advanced the
appreciation for ORT's work and an even
dents and their families is increased 10-fold." programs are: she said. "Also, what was
Moving On
greater feeling that our time and efforts are
The group met 12-year-old Martin who
so gratifying is that I became acquainted
The group also visited the ORT Uruguay
being well spent in support of the organiza-
shared his excitement to be an ORT student
with many of the students and got to know
University, which for the fifth successive year tion': Hermelin said.
in Argentina. And there was Tomas, 16, who,
some on a one-on-one basis. Clearly, ORT
has been ranked as the only university in
when not in his technology classes, spent
Argentina prides itself on regularly produc-
the country to be among the best in Latin
time on a writing competition that he won,
ing some of the country's top achievers in
America.
For more information on ORT
allowing him to travel to Poland for the
science and technology — and that was
The four Michigan mission participants
America and the mission, contact
March of the Living/Holocaust commemora- evidenced by the students I met today. Their extended their trip to visit ORT Chile and
Nicole Muchnick, director of the
tion at greatly reduced cost.
potential is enormous and ORT understands learned about plans to open a new Jewish
Michigan Region: (248) 723-8860
that by providing education and training to
school, which would provide an affordable
or nmuchnick@ortamerica.org . ORT
Positive Feedback
Jews in South America, they are being given
option for the 2,000 children not served by
America (www.ortamerica.org ) is the
After touring Buenos Aires' ORT Belgrano
the tools necessary for individual and com-
Santiago's two Jewish schools.
primary fundraising arm of World
campus, Rose Ann Rosenthal of Waterford,
munity survival.
Hermelin who had visited ORT Chile
ORT, the largest nongovernmental
traveling with her husband, Bernard, com-
"It is essential that other young profes-
in 2007, noted,"The new school will offer
education and training organiza-
mented,"What an exciting campus. I'm so
sionals like me support ORT. Through ORT,
World ORT's internationally acclaimed cur-
tion worldwide. The ORT network
impressed by the teaching philosophy that
we can contribute to a dynamic future for
riculum, combining state-of-the-art science
now has a presence in 63 countries
allows students to interact in various ways
the Jewish people while ensuring ORT stu-
and technology education and vocational
educating and training 300,000 stu-
— not just through books, but also through
dents every possible success."
training with an excellent Jewish education
dents and beneficiaries annually.
hands-on situations where they apply what
In addition to the ORT Belgrano cam-
using the most modern teaching methods

December 31 • 2009

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