EBDI visits PACT in Ashkelon

Mayor Benny Vaknin greets Michael Hoffman of The Associated while Meir Bouhnik of The Ashkelon Foundation looks on.

Yesterday a VIP EBDI delegation of 16 professionals from Baltimore visited Ashkelon to see PACT projects in action and learn about the specific problems facing new immigrants from Ethiopia in Israel.

EBDI is the East Baltimore Development Inc - a nonprofit partnership of private and public entities that is undertaking the single largest redevelopment project in Baltimore, transforming 88 acres with $1.8 billion in new investments. EBDI works in partnership with and receives support from, among others, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Johns Hopkins Institutions, the Goldseker Foundation, the Greater Baltimore Committee, and the Federal, State and City governments.

The delegation is in Israel to examine the PACT (Parents and Children Together) model, learn about the work of the JDC and see for themselves the impact of Baltimore's support for the PACT program, with a view to implementing aspects of the PACT program in East Baltimore. Read about PACT here

In Ashkelon, the EBDI delegation visited Bet Tzipora - an after-school facility supported by Marion and Eli Wiesel to nurture children of Ethiopian origin and help them be the best that they can be. The delegation split up to visit homes of Ethiopians living in Ashkelon, visited kindergartens, and held meetings with Ashkelon social service professionals.

Last stop was a PACT Hannuka activity for mothers and children at the community center. Mr Benny Vaknin, the newly elected Mayor of Ashkelon met Janie McCullough, Deputy Mayor of Baltimore and warmly welcomed the delegation. to the city. Nicole

Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin with Baltimore's Deputy Mayor Janie McCullough

Benny Vaknin, Janie McCullough & Michael Hoffman

A display of LEAP embroidery and baskets made by Ethiopian women EBDI participant Adam Rosenberg met Zuwalu of LEAP , who embroidered this picture of Adam & Eve in Gan Eden

Read Adam Rosenberg's EBDI trip to Israel report here

Mayor Benny Vaknin, Suzi Eigenstein (Women's Forum) and Meir Bouhnik (The Ashkelon Foundation)

PACT activity for Mothers and children

See more photos of the EIDB visit in this photo album ALBUM