July 7, 2010

A dozen leading volunteers embarked on a fact-finding mission to Haiti this week to witness first-hand how Jewish Federation partners are helping the victims of the 7.0 earthquake that devastated the impoverished nation in January.

This mission led by The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is the first movement-wide Federation mission to Haiti since the disaster. A mission in April by Steve Nasitir and David Sherman, president and chair of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, made important early assessments of progress on the ground. This week's mission is the first of two JFNA-led groups that will bring up to 36 participants to assess the life-saving efforts of Federation-supported agencies on the ground in Haiti.

JFNA invited a select group of lay leaders to participate on the missions, including participants from communities that raised over $20,000 in Haiti Emergency Relief, JFNA's National Women's Philanthropy Board members and JFNA's National Young Leadership Cabinet and Alumni. Though this is a fact-finding mission with no direct solicitation, a $10,000 Annual Campaign gift is suggested for all participants.

Running from July 5 through August 11, the missions will visit sites that two of our overseas partners, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and World ORT, manage, along with local partner agencies. For example, participants will facilitate an activity for children in a displaced persons camp, funded and supported by JDC. Participants will also learn about the work of our partners at VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and hear directly from some of their volunteers and professionals.

Mission participants will also visit the University Hospital, where JDC, with top professionals from Magen David Adom and Tel HaShomer Hospital, are implementing a rehabilitation program for amputees.

Participants will also learn how our overseas partners are not only aiding earthquake victims, but helping Haiti build a lasting infrastructure that will allow them to avoid such disasters in the future. One such long-term effort is a new joint initiative of JDC and World ORT to train at least 3,000 building laborers in earthquake-resistant construction techniques.

Immediately after the earthquake struck Haiti, the Jewish Federation movement responded in force. JFNA urged Federations to direct donors to the JDC Haiti Relief Fund mailbox or open their own mailboxes and provide the donations to JDC. Together, the Jewish Federations raised more than $5.4 million in aid.

For further details, please visit JFNA's Haiti Relief page.