19 July 2004 On Tuesday 13th July, 161 lay and professional leaders of North American Jewish Federations visited one of ORTs first schools in the CIS and Baltic States, ORT de Gunzburg in St. Petersburg. The visit was part of the United Jewish Communities (UJC) 2005 Campaign Chairmen and Directors Mission. The ORT de Gunzburg Technology Centre at Jewish School No. 550 in St. Petersburg opened in 1995. Since its inauguration the school has ranked first in computer facilities and is known as one of the citys top Jewish schools. In 1999 the school was acknowledged by the local authorities as an institute specializing in information technology and foreign languages. ORT de Gunzburg today has a student population of some 460 students aged from 6-17, and the schools curriculum combines the educational requirements of the Russian authorities with cutting edge technological education and an all important Jewish syllabus. The technology programs taught at ORT de Gunzburg promote skills in information and multimedia technologies, desktop publishing and web design. Subjects taught include several programming courses, Internet technology and computer physics. The school regularly participates in international telecommunications competitions and technology based projects with other Jewish schools in St Petersburg. During their visit to the school, mission participants met some of the schools students and learnt about the wide range of activities offered by ORT de Gunzburg. ORT officials described ORTs widespread operations in the CIS and Baltic States and its colourful history. ORT St. Petersburg designed a special e postcard, with views of St. Petersburg, for the mission participants and provided a cyber caf for their exclusive use in the lobby of their hotel, where they were able to keep in touch with their families. The cyber caf proved so popular that on occasion it was in use until the small hours of the morning! The visit ended with a special concert by the schools students, winners of international music competitions, in honour of the UJC Mission. The young musicians and singers impressed the guests with their wide repertoire of Jewish songs.