Join ORT’s International Cooperation Program this fall for a unique and impactful Symposium to Sofia, Bulgaria and Thessaloniki, Greece. This trip will be facilitated and led by Celeste Angus, World ORT’s Director of IC. Together we will experience the vibrant culture and Jewish history of each city, while actively collaborating with the ORT Sofia Jewish Day School and our local NGO partner in Greece, as well as the refugee community and beneficiaries. Global citizenship is one of ORT’s three pillars and the IC Symposium will increase awareness and enable participants to better understand the wider world and to play an active role in changing lives through ORT IC. Two student Ambassadors from ORT Sofia will travel with us, providing unique, firsthand insight into the impact of an ORT education.

Itinerary

Wednesday, October 19
Individuals should arrange their international tickets to arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria on this day. We will meet at the Grand Hyatt Regency Sofia, Vasil Levski Square, 1504 Sofia Center, Bulgaria. Celeste will make hotel reservations at the Hyatt and will need the following information: names, passport numbers, birth dates, passport expiration dates and number of guests.

Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Sofia with ORT Sofia history teacher and ORT Bulgaria Director, Plamen Petrov. This will be followed by a group welcome dinner with a local artisan demonstration.

Thursday, October 20
The group will travel to Jewish cultural sites outside of Sofia, followed by a free evening.

Friday, October 21

The group will meet with Yoram Elron, Israeli Ambassador to Bulgaria. This will be followed by a tour of the ORT Jewish Day School in Sofia where we will meet with ORT Director, Principal, students, teachers and staff. We will also observe LEGO, science, Hebrew and English lessons, and participate in a group interview conducted by students in the state-of-the-art ORT TV and radio studio.

Shabbat dinner at ORT school.

Saturday, October 22
Enjoy a walking tour of the Jewish cultural sites Sofia including a visit to the Holocaust Museum and the Sofia Synagogue.

Free afternoon and evening.

Sunday, October 23
The group will travel to Thessaloniki via van. The four-hour journey will include a stop at a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will check into the Caravan Hotel (reservations made by Celeste) and we will enjoy a group dinner with ORT IC partner, Irida Center.

Monday, October 24

The group will visit the Irida Center and have the opportunity to participate in art, sewing, cooking, and psychosocial support workshops. We will enjoy lunch with refugee beneficiaries including recently arrived Ukrainians.

Tuesday, October 25
Enjoy a walking tour with renowned Jewish historian, Rena Molho, including a visit to the Thessaloniki Synagogue, the Holocaust Museum, and Holocaust Memorial at the Central Library Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Closing group dinner.

Wednesday, October 26
Depart or join us for the optional trip to visit ORT IC project in Albania – a computer skills training project for Afghan refugees (October 26-28).

• Cost of trip is US $3,000 plus cost of international airfare.
• Albania add-on trip will be an additional cost of $700.
• A deposit of $1,000 will be due upon registration.

For additional information, contact:

Celeste Angus Gonzales, Director, International Cooperation, World ORT
[email protected]