A smart glove and walking stick equipped with sensors to assist visually-impaired people, the hosting of a regular staff and teacher appreciation event and the preservation of the memory of the Holocaust are among the projects for which ORT students have been recognized in their efforts to improve the world.
Seven projects that were deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to Tikkun Olam – our shared responsibility to heal, repair and transform the world – have won the World ORT Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award out of a record 18 entries.
Ten entries were submitted by students from Escola ORT in Brazil; two by students from Scuola della Comunità Ebraica di Milano in Italy; two by students from Moscow ORT School #1540 in Russia; and one from students in each of ORT “Mishpahteinu” School in Kazan, Russia; ORT “Gesher” School in Samara, Russia; Colegio Olamí ORT in Mexico; and Colegio Isaac Rabin in Panama.
In a competition first, all four entries from Russia won the award.
Smart Glove and Smart Walking Stick, conceived by students from Escola ORT, is a glove equipped with ultrasonic and color sensors, activated by voice command, to assist visually-impaired people to navigate indoors. A smart walking stick was also envisioned, equipped with proximity sensors to assist visually-impaired individuals in open urban environments.
The students said: “One of our team members was inspired by a conversation with his father, a coach for Paralympic athletes. His father described the daily challenges faced by the visually-impaired, sparking a deep desire to create a practical solution that could improve their quality of life.”
Toys from the Heart was conceived by Vika, a 10th grade student at Moscow ORT School #1540, who works with children in an orphanage. Many of them struggle with emotional expression, so Vika invites them to draw characters and describe their traits. She then crochets toys based on their drawings, helping them to express their feelings in a safe and creative way.
“When I see a child smile after receiving a toy, I realize we haven’t just created a toy – we have helped them feel important and heard,” explained Vika.
The Memory Through Fates project by students at ORT “Mishpahteinu” School aims to preserve the memory of the Holocaust not only through storytelling but also deeper historical analysis and reflection via archives and the taking of testimonies.
Student Elizaveta said: “My family met Rakhil Peretsevna Arleevskaya, who told us how her father, Perets Arleevskiy, saved his family along with 66 orphans in July 1941.
“We couldn’t find any information about him at Yad Vashem and we realized there were many such stories that could be forgotten. So we decided to create a project that would help preserve memories and explore the fates of people affected by the Holocaust.
“The project has allowed participants to see the human stories behind the numbers.”
The Toda Le’Kulam (Thank You Everyone) project by students from Colegio Olamí ORT, Mexico, gives thanks to school staff in various departments in recognition of their hard work and contribution.
Once a month, on Friday afternoons, elementary students, along with a teacher and student leaders, prepare and cook a lunch, have a Kabbalat Shabbat and social activities with staff groups.
“Our role is to plan the meals and activities, prepare, cook, share and clean after the event,” the students said.
Students from Moscow ORT School #1540 were behind the Culinary Connection project, which brings together generations through cooking traditional Jewish dishes. Students host workshops with elderly people from chesed organizations and deliver meals to those who are housebound.
“Many elderly people face social isolation, especially those who live alone or have mobility issues. In large cities like Moscow, this issue is particularly noticeable as older individuals often find themselves cut off from society and lose connections with others,” students explained.
“The students realized how important it is to build connections between generations and how this helps to combat loneliness. What began as a simple cooking activity has grown into a meaningful experience for everyone involved – a chance to talk, share stories, and truly understand each other.”
Eva, a student at Colegio Isaac Rabin in Panama, conceived the Recycling Talks project, for which she donated four recycling bins (organic, plastic, glass, and paper) to a school in the coastal town of Veracruz, where ocean pollution is a significant threat.
“I explained to preschool and first graders how to use the bins and why recycling matters, especially near the sea. I wanted to help protect our beaches and marine life. The children were so engaged, and teachers said they would keep using the bins, so the impact keeps going.”
Students from ORT “Gesher” School participated in the Volunteer Squad project, supporting the preservation of Jewish culture and traditions.
They organized national holidays in their school, participated in ORT programs, and helped in chesed centres. “We maintain connections between generations. We consider it important to preserve national customs, culture, languages, and traditions of our peoples,” they explained. “We pass on our knowledge to younger children and promote our idea to the masses.”
Some of the students credited the ORT network with being able to participate in the projects.
“Being part of the ORT network was essential to everything we achieved,” said the students behind the Smart Glove and Smart Walking Stick project. “ORT provided us with tools, structure, support, and guidance that made the project possible and enjoyable. The learning environment and teacher guidance helped us apply our knowledge in a practical and concrete way.”
Jim Lodge, CEO of World ORT, said: “We were thrilled with the excellence and breadth of entries to this year’s World ORT Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award.
“They showcase the concern and desire of our students to improve the lives of others in a practical way. We are incredibly proud of our students, who truly embody the values ORT holds dear.”
Prizes are awarded in memory of the late Gina and Joseph Harmatz, who played crucial roles in ORT’s history.
Joseph Harmatz was Director-General and CEO of World ORT in the 1980s and 1990s. Formerly a partisan, he was regarded as a hero of Lithuania’s Jewish resistance against the Nazis, while Gina Harmatz escaped Nazi persecution in western Europe in the 1930s and 1940s before settling in Israel. She was well-known for her graciousness and the importance she placed on family relationships along with concern for the welfare of others.
To view videos of the students’ projects, click here