Projects supported by Levi Lassen

HMW was established in 1998 and is a non-partisan, not for profit organization, dedicated to
(a) promoting the rights of undocumented migrant workers and refugees and
(b) eliminating trafficking in women in Israel.

They aim to build a more just, equitable and democratic society, where the human rights of all those residing within its borders are paramount civic and political values. They see as vital eliminating exploitation of women and violence against them, the proper treatment of non-Jews amongst us, as well as the broad enforcement of laws, policies and procedures promoting equality and justice. Their vision is derived from the humanistic and universal values promoted by Judaism and on which the State of Israel was founded.

In 2007, they will run the following programs.

Programs Targeting Migrant Workers and Refugees: 

• Detained and Trafficked Migrant Workers
• Refugees and Asylum Seekers
• Unaccompanied Foreign Minors
• Sudanese Refugees

Programs Targeting Women Trafficked for the Sex Industry:

• Combating Trafficking in Women (this project is supported by Levi Lassen)
• Choosing Freedom

The Stichting Levi Lassen supports the new program by The Abraham Fund Initiative; "Job placement for Arab women - Regional Economic Cooperation".

The Abraham Fund Initiative has been, since its establishment in 1989, a leading advocate for coexistence and equality among Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens. The Abraham Fund is committed to transforming the landscape of Jewish-Arab relations, single-mindedly pursuing its goal of a secure and just Israel for the benefit of all her people.

Click here to read more about The Abraham Fund.

Click here to see a short movie about The Abraham Fund on Youtube.

The Israel Free Loan Association

"A loan is better than charity, for a loan enables one to help himself" (Maimonides)

The Stichting Levi Lassen created a Interest Free Loan Fund with the Israel Free Loan Association. The Israel Free Loan Association (IFLA) has provided interest free loans since 1990 to tens of thousands of immigrants and other needy Israelis to help them over a serious financial crisis. They are a non-profit organization, operated primarily by volunteers, providing loans for medical, education, housing and other economic emergencies, including help to small businesses, victims of terror, the working poor and to maintain family economic security.

IFLA loans have created and preserved many jobs, preventing unemployment and saved thousands of people from going on welfare or eating in soup kitchens.

IFLA does not take any interest on loans and repayments are for the exact same amount borrowed. Monthly repayments are recycled and reissued to new borrowers.

Click here to read more about the IFLA.

The Stichting Levi Lassen supports a highly effective, national-level project, called the Dror Project.  This project is a cooperation of the Dror association, established by the Studying and Working Youth Movement with the International Institute of the Histadrut. 

Representatives of the Stichting Levi Lassen visited the project last summer.  The visit was conducted as follows:

First, the Levi Lassen representatives were introduced to the project's purpose and execution by its coordinators, Michael Frohlich and Gilad Pery during a visit at the International Institute in Beit Berl.  The project is designed for two main sectors of the population: teenagers at risk, who study in Dror classes- special advancement/ development programs in various schools around Israel.  The second group - guides of ages 15-17 who, on their free time tutor younger kids the elementary subjects, especially to children who are unable to afford private tutors.  In addition, the project signifies the encounter between Arabs and Jews who participate in the project.  In total 130 teenagers and 30 mentors participated in the project during 2005.

The Levi Lassen's representatives later drove to the Galilee region in northern Israel.  They arrived at the young educational kibbutz, Eshbal, where they met with the representatives of the Studying and Working Youth Movement.

Background on Eshbal:
The Eshbal Kibbutz was established eight years ago, by a group of youngsters, all former guides of the Studying and Working Youth Movement, in efforts to develop a model for a new type of settlement: an educational kibbutz. 
This kibbutz mainly aspires to a serious involvement and contribution to the Israeli society through education.  Considering the harsh Israeli reality and the current difficulties in the educational system, members of Eshbal realize that improvement and change in the Israeli society can come about primarily by education, thus shaping the future generations more positively. 
Nowadays, over 60 members live in Eshbal, all work in the field of education, and are leaders of many diverse educational projects, some on the formal and others on the non-formal levels of education.  The Eshbal members come in consistent contact with all the different sectors of the Israeli society; immigrants, teenagers at risk, Arabs, Bedouins, Jews etc.

At Eshbal, the Levi Lassen's representatives met with the project leaders and with Arab and Jewish teenagers who participated in the project.  The meeting began at the Kibbutz's dining room, where the participants had lunch in the typical style of a meal at a kibbutz.  Later, participants in the projects commented on their own experiences from the project.  Yousouf, a teenager from Haifa said: "One of the most unique things in the project is the attitude of the mentors.  The way in which they treat you like a good friend.  You can talk to them about anything".  Limor, a ninth grader from Carmiel adds: "In my opinion, the peak of the project was a group discussion we had between our group, of Jews from Carmiel, and a group of Arab teenagers.  That was the first time I actually had the opportunity to talk with Arab teenagers.  The conversation wasn't very easy, but it made us realize how similar they are to us, with similar problems…". Giora Tal, a mentor said: "The fact that I can take these teenagers and spend two whole days with them away from the stressful school environment gives me the opportunity to get to know them more personally and advance them academically".

The visit ended by a reading of various poems written by the teenagers who participated in the project, which were especially translated to English for the visit of the Levi Lassen members.  As a gift, the funds' representatives received a booklet of poems with a personal dedication.