Partnership 2000: Eilat-Eilot-Toronto
The goals of the group: *Improving the quality of life in the city of Eilat in all areas. *Encouraging and assisting various bodies in the community which seek to improve the quality of life in the community in the areas of education for children and adults, social and cultural activities, the appearance of the city, involvement of the residents in the community and health. *Strengthening of the ties with world Jewry in general and with the Jewish community in Toronto in particular. *The group is committed to the residents of the Eilat area and focuses its attention on the various needs and desires of each resident. It strives to have an influence and to be a part of the community.
Quick Facts on the Forum
Founded in: 2000
Number of Active Members: 20
Contact Person: Hagit Shilo, referent of the Jewish Agency, HagitSh@jafi.org; Hani Shamir, Chairman of the Group, h-shamir@012.net.il
Main Areas of Activity
Community Involvement: The group is active in a number of areas: the environment, mishloah manot on Purim for youth at risk, joint activities with the schools on behalf of children from families in distress.
Ties with the Community in the Diaspora: The group is in contact with the YLD group in Toronto and has worked on joint projects such as PEN PALS and the hosting of delegations from Toronto. They have also created a joint project with teachers in Toronto to provide televisions for the patients of Yoseftal.
Absorption: The group has initiated a project called "In and Around Eilat" which provides tours of Eilat and the surrounding region to new olim at a nominal price.
Welfare: For the last four years, members of the group have collected backpacks and school supplies for needy students at the beginning of the school year. This is a joint project with the schools, Or Shalom and the Eilat Community Center.
Collection of School Supplies for Needy Students and an Environmental Project
The members of the Community Involvement group, which is part of the Partnership 2000 project of the Jewish Agency, are implementing a project to collect schools supplies for needy children. All the material that is collected will be transferred to the schools, kindergartens and Eilat Community Center for distribution to needy families. Before the start of the school year, the members of the group set up booths at various places of business in the city in order to collect donations. In this way, the children of needy families can return to school properly prepared. The group is also implementing an environmental project which includes a publicity campaign and a cleanup operation of the Electricity Company beach and beaches south of Eilat. The operation was initiated by the "I care about Eilat" group which consists of volunteers from Eilat. The group is not connected to any political or business interests and operates within Partnership 2000 which is a joint project of the Jewish Agency, the Toronto community, Eilat and the Eilot region and the young people of Eilat. The objective of the campaign is to increase awareness of the damage being done by the dumping of garbage to the ocean, the beaches, the Gulf of Eilat and the local fauna. During the operation, garbage bags were distributed to bathers on the beaches, information was disseminated, beaches were cleaned and health hazards identified. Families and vacationers internalized the message and used the garbage bags to clean up the area around them. The operation was sponsored by the Port of Eilat which contributed shirts and hats to the volunteers. Volunteers from Eilat and the Port participated in the operation under the guidance of the Nature Reserves Authority.