Belgian ORT was established in 1946 primarily to educate Jewish children who had returned from the camps so that they could enter regular schools.
Over the next 20 years thousands of people – most of them minors – were trained in fields as varied as electromechanics and dressmaking across three vocational schools, 20 training workshops and an agricultural centre. ORT provided pupils with monetary assistance, food and clothing parcels.
In the 21st Century, the organization has operated as a fundraising arm, using missions and school visits to raise money. International trips have included to countries such as France, Lithuania, Argentina and Ukraine.
Ukraine
ORT Ukraine supports more than 7,000 students across five ORT schools, two ORT-affiliated schools, and eight non-Jewish institutions around the country.
Panama
The Colegio Isaac Rabin in Panama City is a Jewish school with more than 300 students, from preschool through to high school age.
Chile
Since its inception, ORT Chile has provided support to the government, to local businesses, and to 500 schools and institutions, helping to educate hundreds of thousands of students.