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essay
Why I’m Sticking with World ORT
I
have been privileged to be involved in
Jewish communal life since the early
1960s. I am also fortunate to have lots of
choices in life. I could, for example, spend
a lot more time reading my volume on
Churchill rather than thinking
about what is on the agenda
for our next Board of Trustees
meeting.
So why am I signing up
for a second four-year term
as president of World ORT,
the global education network
driven by Jewish values?
Partly because this has been a remarkable
period in the history of our organization —
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And also
because as I reflect on the challenges of my
first term and acknowledge that there have
been many, I see that we have met them. We
will continue to meet them, even though the
future has a rather fuzzy look to it right now.
ORT reaches more than 300,000 benefi-
ciaries in over 30 countries every year. Our
teachers are leading classes every day for stu-
dents in countries as diverse as Mexico and
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and South Africa.
For 140 years since its foundation in St.
Petersburg, Russia, in 1880, ORT has trans-
formed lives through training and educa-
tion. While we once focused on teaching
19th-century Russian Jews essential trades
like tailoring or ironmongery, we have
evolved to provide 21st century skills in
STEM subjects and innovative fields such as
robotics and artificial intelligence.
Using ground-breaking technology is sec-
ond nature to us. This pandemic’
s demand
that learning take place off-site gave ORT
schools a headstart in March. Our teachers
and principals were able to quickly adapt
their curriculum to ensure every student
could continue their education from home
as soon as possible when lockdowns were
enforced.
In the future, we will be able to expand
this level of expertise, but as great a chal-
lenge as any over the next four years will
be our ability to grow our resources to sup-
port our activities globally. ORT’
s funding
comes in large part from individuals living
in the United States, Canada, the UK and
Switzerland. Quite simply, despite the public
support currently available, we would not be
able to function without these supporters.
The education provided by ORT schools
is exceptional. It changes lives. On a trip to
one of our high schools in Kiev, Ukraine,
I met a 17-year-old girl. I always ask our
students, “What are you going to do in life?”
This girl knew she was going to get a law
degree from Colombia University. Neither
of her parents had gone to school, but she
was already talking about her future. All
of us have dreams; seldom are all those
dreams achieved. But ORT gives young-
sters an opportunity to dream — and hopes
that could never have existed in their lives
because of when and where they were born.
I was always taught the importance of
lifelong study. In giving back, I want to help
others have the chance to achieve the kind of
educational success that World ORT and its
affiliates such as ORT America provide.
Why am I still doing this? Because the
great joy of leading ORT is the opportunity
to observe youngsters around the world in
their learning environment, to see their test
results which reflect outstanding profession-
al support, and to interact with the many
dedicated professionals and teachers who fill
the educational environments where these
youngsters are learning.
Dr. Conrad Giles is the president of World ORT. He
was re-elected to a second term at the organization’
s
General Assembly on May 24. A leading pediatric oph-
thalmologist, he is chief emeritus of ophthalmology at
Children’
s Hospital of Michigan.
Dr. Conrad
Giles
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF WORLD ORT
TOP: ORT students in Kiev learn with LEGOs. BOTTOM:
A mock Sabbath dinner for ORT children in Kiev.