When Luke returned from the 2024 European Maccabi youth games, which he had attended as a tennis player, he reflected on the effort he had put into training for the games as well as the passion he had for the game. He felt that every child should get to experience such a passion and reflected on those who had not had the opportunity to try out the sport.
Luke, a student at an ORT-affiliated school in Johannesburg, South Africa, set out to change that. In doing so, he won the prestigious World ORT Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award for Social Responsibility 2026.
Putting Tikkun Olam Into Practice
World ORT is an educational network rooted in Jewish values and the Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award recognizes students who put into practice the Jewish values of tikkun olam, our shared responsibility to heal, repair and transform the world.
Luke had already been volunteering for the past two years at Hayani Crèche, a school and home for underprivileged children, and he knew they did not have much access to extracurricular sporting opportunities.
“Sport is a fundamental part of growing up. It aids children in developing physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially,” Luke explains. “From improving gross motor skills, coordination, and overall health to teaching discipline, resilience and improving self-esteem, the value of sport cannot be understated.
“So when I knew these children were not getting the opportunity to play sports and were missing this key development aspect of childhood, I knew it was a problem.”
Luke set up an organisation called Hayani Tennis, for which he sponsored equipment and resources, including tennis rackets and beginner-friendly balls, provided snacks, organized volunteers, and taught the children.
“The children I have trained have come extremely far,” he says. “Not only have their tennis skills and fitness improved, but their overall happiness has, too.”
Meanwhile, the project Our Little World, by students at Moscow’s ORT Technology School was awarded second place. It aimed to establish a unified visual language for the kindergarten that reflects ORT’s values and introduces children to Jewish culture and traditions.
Over three years, student Polina and her team worked with an artist mentor and her illustrations now adorn the kindergarten’s walls, signs, doors, and play elements.
The team from Costa Rica won third place with Fundación Genesis, a project that supports children in Alajuelita, a community affected by violence and instability.
Alongside a local institution, the students organize activities such as soccer training and dance classes to give children a safe space to have fun and express themselves. Student Joseph also leads donation campaigns to collect soccer jerseys and bring treats.
BAMI (Brazil), Megillat Esther (ORT “Tekhiya”, Moscow) and Voices of Forgotten Names (Bila Tserkva, Ukraine) were named as the runners-up.
The Impact: A Mutually Rewarding Partnership
The initiatives not only provided benefits to their recipients, but they also gave the students the opportunity to develop new skills, confidence, and a deeper sense of social responsibility.
Luke says of the children he taught, “I have seen them grow into children who are diligent, consistent, and motivated. It has been the most fulfilling experience watching my students improve and I am proud to be able to say that I have seen and ignited that very same passion in every one of them.”
Polina worked on her project for three years, during which time her contributions helped to shape an inclusive and culturally rich environment for the children.
She explains: “I didn’t fully understand what this project would turn into. In my mind, I was just given a kindergarten – I had no experience of working on a real project.
“This project became more than just work for me. The greatest value for me is that the work we all contributed to, the work of me and my team, will remain after us and bring joy to children, parents, and teachers.”
Polina spent her prize money on purchasing essential supplies for “Dom s Mayakom” (House with a Lighthouse) hospice. The funds were used to buy items that are regularly needed by the hospice’s patients, as well as supplies for various activities and events. Her fellow students in the 11th grade helped to deliver the items to the hospice.
Joseph said, “The children look forward to our visits and feel supported. Through this experience, I have learned the importance of empathy, leadership, and taking action to create meaningful change in others’ lives. I’ve learned that creating moments of joy can have a powerful impact, and that even simple efforts can bring hope to others.”
The Schools Behind This Year’s Entries
A record 19 entries to the World ORT Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award were submitted by four sets of students from King David High School Linksfield, South Africa (including Luke); three sets from ORT Argentina; three from Escola ORT, Brazil; three sets from School #1311, ORT “Tekhiya”, Moscow, Russia; two sets from ORT Technology School (Gymnasium #1540), Moscow, Russia; one set from Lyceum #141 ‘ORT’ Kyiv, Ukraine; one set from Schreiber Family Corporate Lyceum, Bila Tserkva, Ukraine; one set from Colegio Olamí ORT, Mexico; and one set from Instituto Dr Jaim Weizman, Costa Rica.
About the Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award
The award recognises outstanding student contributions to Tikkun Olam, our shared responsibility to heal, repair and transform the world. It is given 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 resistance movement against the Nazis. Gina Harmatz survived Nazi persecution in western Europe in the 1930s and 1940s before settling in Israel, and was well known for her graciousness, the importance she placed on family relationships and her concern for the welfare of others.
To view videos of this year’s students’ projects, visit: Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award 2026 – YouTube
To learn more about making a difference to students such as these, please contact Allison Baumwald, World ORT’s Chief Development Officer, at [email protected]
Connecting across borders. Learning without boundaries. That’s the Power of World ORT.
#IAmORT