MASHAV

While we gather together to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Passover, we remember that throughout history the "Seder" – the festive meal that opens the Passover festival - has provided us with a sense of liberty, unity – family bonding, Jewish identity and hope for the future. Each year at our Seder tables, we open our Haggada (the traditional Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder) and read: "All who are hungry come and eat; all who are needy come and celebrate Passover."

As part of Israel and Germany cooperation within the framework of the "Africa Initiative", two MASHAV experts arrived in Cameroon to conduct a survey mission aimed at promoting growing of fruit trees with an emphasis on mangoes. The Joint Africa Initiative outlines the ongoing development cooperation between Israel and Germany in six African partner countries and provides guiding principles for the partnership.

As part of its international activities, Magen David Adom (MDA) was invited by the Institute of Technology of Ecuador’s Red Cross to train the local paramedics, as part of events marking the 12th anniversary of the Institute. The Israeli experts shared with the participants their experience in handling mass casualty events and conducted a pilot course developed by MDA in cooperation with the Norwegian Red Cross on training of ambulances staff on how to deal with providing medical care in areas of conflict.

A sight restoring mission was recently held by Israeli NGO Eye from Zion in Yangon under the auspices of the Israeli Embassy in Myanmar. The Israeli ophthalmologists and medical team conducted over 300 surgical procedures in two local hospitals, and trained the local staffs. During their stay, the Israeli doctors held a Professional Ophtalmology Symposium on Glaucoma at the premises of Myanmar’s Medical Association. Photos: David Salomon

A delegation from Rwanda arrived in Israel to learn about the agricultural, research and commercial aspects of Israel’s agriculture, with an emphasis on subtropical crops and nurseries, post harvest and marketing of vegetables. The members will form part of the professional cadre of the Center of Excellence in Agriculture (CoE) recently established by MASHAV in Kigali. The CoE is a bilateral enterprise between Israel-Rwanda to stimulate agricultural growth and alleviate rural poverty. The visit followed a professional tour to the Centers established by MASHAV in India, where they examined the possible adaptation of the successful model to the CoE in Kigali.

AGRO Israel is a new international digital agricultural magazine and the first of its kind in Israel. The magazine will be a platform for many articles written by prominent opinion leaders and practitioners in the field of agriculture and agro-technology as well as scientists, experts, entrepreneurs and decision makers from the public sector.

Training continues in Senegal at the joint TIPA-PAPSEN project, a cooperation enterprise between Israel and Italy. MASHAV’s expert Tammy Erann-Soussan recently conducted workshops in the areas of organization and management of farmers’ associations, irrigation - followed by installation of drip irrigation lines, and also on growing onions and okra utilizing drip-irrigation techniques. Participants included all members of the community!

Head of MASHAV, Ambassador Gil Haskel, is accompanying Israel’s Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel on his official visit to India. Ambassador Haskel was a speaker at a seminar organized as part of the 2016 India’s Water Week, where he presented the State of Israel’s aid and development activities. During the visit, Minister Ariel together with Ambassador Haskel and Israel’s Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon, inaugurated a new Center of Excellence in Agriculture for sub-tropical fruits in Haryana, which will specialize in mangoes.

Israel is partnering with India for the 2016 India’s Water Week, held under the theme “Water for all: Striving together”. Events include seminars, brainstorming sessions, panel discussions, presentation of case studies and side events. The ‘Water Expo-2016’ Exhibition is taking place alongside the conference. The Israeli National Pavilion was inaugurated by Israel’s Agriculture Minister, Mr. Uri Ariel and India's Union Minister of State-Water Resources, Mr. Sanwar Lal Jat.

Two volunteer medical delegations from Eye from Zion conducted humanitarian missions to Kenya. The Israeli teams performed over 1,000 sight restoring surgery in Chuka and Miramani, near Mount Kenya, and trained the local medical staff. While in Kenya the delegations headed by Israeli leading ophthalmologists Prof. Assia and Prof. Avni, held a National Conference on Cataracts and Glaucoma, organized under the auspices of the Israeli Embassy in Kenya. Photo: Vardi Kahana

Over 450 people, including foreign diplomats serving in Israel, foreign journalists and corps of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in Israel's 1st Diplomatic Race in Jerusalem. The sporting event - first of its kind in Israel - is a joint initiative of the Foreign Ministry and Jerusalem Municipality's division of sports. It included two routes - a 10 km route for runners and a 3 km route for walkers. MASHAV was fully represented in the race, and our colleague, Amy Cohen, won the first place in the women’s 10 km route! The event is regarded as a different, innovative way of conducting diplomacy between countries while running along the beautiful scenery of Jerusalem. Photo: Aviad Tevel

The Shalom Club –Rwanda (formed by graduates from MASHAV training courses) organized an inspiring activity with the residents of the Marembo Center – a Kigali based NGO that works with young girls and teenagers, along with their children, who have been rescued from the streets or dysfunctional, violent homes. By providing housing, food, education, social work services, healthcare, skill training and emotional support, the aim of the center is to transform their lives by giving them the means and opportunity to shape their own future.

The Digital Diplomacy Conference - the first of its kind in Israel - opened in Tel Aviv bringing together participants from 25 countries. It will examine the influence of social networks and technologies on the activity of ministries of foreign affairs throughout the world as well as on diplomacy and communications and the interaction between them.

MASHAV shares with developing countries, Israel’s experience in the area of sustainable management of water resources. Challenges include the need to increase access to water and improve quality in order to feed growing populations and provide clean drinking water while minimizing negative health and environmental impacts.

In order to reintegrate vulnerable adolescents into the educational system, it is imperative to create opportunities and access to programs which can provide meaningful learning experiences. Within this framework, a professional program entitled “Youth at Risk: Preventing Student Dropouts and Facilitating Reintegration” was especially designed by MASHAV’s Ofri Educational Training Center (METC) in cooperation with UNESCO’s Participation Program and Fellowships Section, for 25 professionals from 17 countries. More about the course here: https://www.facebook.com/OfriCenter

Two Israeli experts, Moshe Bruner and Dror Dotan, arrived in Cameroon to conduct a specialized agricultural training course on the relationship between soil-water-plant, with the overall goal of transferring know-how on planning and establishing modern irrigation systems. The course was held at the Obala Agricultural School within the framework of cooperation between MASHAV, AFD (Agence Française de Développement) and the Ministry of Agriculture of Cameroon. During the course, the Israeli experts operated the equipment brought by them from Israel during a previous mission and which was left in Obala for the school’s use.

To all our friends celebrating Easter around the world: May you feel the hope of new beginnings during this joyful Easter holiday!

Head of MASHAV Ambassador Gil Haskel was invited to attend the annual conference of AIPAC – The American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, and present MASHAV’s activities around the world in four different forums. We would like to share with you a movie about MASHAV’s activities in Kenya in the area of sustainable development which was screened at the assembly and in front of 18,000 delegates!