Website: www.md.huji.ac.il/publichealth
March, 1999
Dear Editor,
I sincerely thank you for your sending Shalom Magazine which always reminds me of the 8 weeks that I spent in Israel from July-August 1997 at Kaplan Nursing College, Rehovot. Once more I want to thank the Israel Embassy for affording me the opportunity to participate in an International Course on Management and Leadership in Nursing. I would like to thank all the people involved in the program, especially the Director of Kaplan College, Dr. Ziva Shapira, and all the tutorial staff for their high standard of teaching. They really created a very conducive and friendly atmosphere that not only helped our learning but created a spirit of group cohesion amongst the class.
With kind regards,
Cassitta Sefoloko
Chief Professional Nurse
Tshepong Hospital
Klerksdorp Hospital
Klerksdorp 2570
SOUTH AFRICA
June, 1999
Dear Editor,
Shalom! I thank you very much for remembering me since my visit to Israel. I was one of 33 participants from 22 different countries participating in the International Course on Study Planning and Curriculum Development, October-November, 1996, at the Aharon Ofri Study Center at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. I got a taste of the different types of curricula in Israeli and Arab schools, for the religious sector, for special education, etc. I appreciated the practical down-to-earth lecturers as well as the merits of the subject technology in education and how with gadgets and links to the real world learning can be meaningful with lots of fun.
I thank the organizers for the visits to all levels of Israeli educational system as well as to institutions where specific projects are in operation. I was impressed with the innovative and challenging activities of the Technion, Israels Institute of Technology, and the creative set of experiences for children and teachers at the Center for Environmental Education, which shows the national will is toward educating children and young adults to move the countrys development forward and help it function in the 21st century.
Sincerely yours,
F.T. Agbogun
Ministry of Education
Schools & Colleges Department
PMB 1069
Lokoja, Kogi State
NIGERIA
This letter was sent to Sydney Lossin, course coordinator at the Volcani Center, ARO, in Beit Dagan:
January, 1999
Dear Sydney Lossin,
I was very pleased to hear from you. My memories go back to the days I was in Israel, where I spent a meaningful and wonderful time. Im still in Minxian County, which is my experimental site, about 300km south of Lanzhou, engaging in grain production and high yield increasing techniques, research and extension. I take this opportunity to send my best wishes to the Israeli government, the kind people and all the lecturers at the Volcani Center, especially Dr. Reuven who taught me a lot in class as well as outside.
Sincerely yours,
Shengmao Yang
Soil & Fertilizer Institute
Gansu Academy of Agricultural Science
Lanzhou 730070
P.R. CHINA
August, 1999
This letter was received by Yaron Mayer, First Secretary of the Israeli Embassy in Budapest:
Dear Mr. Mayer,
I participated in the International Course on Development Projects in Rural Areas at the Development Study Center in Rehovot from April to August, 1999. The course was very useful to me. I can utilize a lot of what I learned in my work in Hungary. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Embassy of Israel in Hungary and to MASHAV, which made my trip possible. I hope we can continue this fruitful relationship in the future. I wish you success in your work.
Terezia Nagy Vargane Varga
Nutritionist, Project Coordinator
Health Policy Unit
National Institute for Health Promotion
Frankel Leo Str. 30-34
1023 Budapest
HUNGARY
June, 1999
Dear Editor,
Thank you for sending Shalom Magazine that reminds me of the unforgettable days I spent in Israel, the beautiful wonderland, during November-December 1998 to attend the 7th Course on Hydrometeorology arranged by MASHAV. I learned a lot inside the classroom and outside.
When I arrived in Israel I remembered the words of Ms Yashika, Agricultural Affairs Secretary of the Israel Embassy in New Delhi: "The people are very nice. You will surely enjoy your stay in Israel." She was correct. I remember with gratitude the help and affection shown by Raanan Katzir of CINADCO, Zehava Borsuk and Yaacov Lomas of the Israel Meteorological Institute and Amos our guide. I witnessed the reality of making deserts bloom. Life in the kibbutz, efforts to harvest water and the advanced technology in agriculture amazed me. Also, my participation in the course enhanced my vision of the world. I now have friends all over the globe. I am not sure whether I will be able to visit Israel once more in my life, but my memories of the landscape will never fade. I express my sincere thanks to MASHAV, the Israel Meteorological Institute and the Embassy of Israel for providing me this rare chance.
Dr. K. Shadananan Nair
Department of Physical Oceanography
Cochin University of Science and Technology
Fine Arts Ave. Kochi-682016
Kerala
INDIA
July, 1999
Dear Editor,
I am grateful for your sending me Shalom Magazine. It brings back all the nice memories of the wonderful time I had in Israel with other participants in the International Course on Urban Economic Development conducted at the Galillee College near Haifa.
Your magazine helps me keep in touch with our friend and neighbor Israel where I found technological expertise, organization and kind-hearted people. The course improved my knowledge and provided me with an opportunity to know more about the country where citizens work hard to make it a great country with a common belief that peace must be, so we will continue to sow more and more seeds of peace.
I would like to thank the Government of Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MASHAV staff, the Israeli Ambassador in Amman Mr. Oded Eran and Mrs. Micki Eran, Academic Consultant Victor Nahmias and Mrs. Ilana Nahmias. Finally I would like to thank in a special way Dr. Joseph Shevel, the Chairman of the Galillee College, Dr. G. Harel, academic director, Ms. Yael Strausz, Ms. Rachel Noyman, Ms. Safnat Meir, Ms. S. Sadaka and Mr. S. Shaked, and also all the lecturers of the course.
I hope one day to be able to visit Israel again.
Adel Zerakli
POB 7
Maan
JORDAN
July, 1999
Dear Editor,
I acknowledge with sincere thanks the receipt of regular copies of Shalom Magazine. It is through this magazine that I am always reminded of the wonderful country I visited. I participated in the 12th International Course on Soil Fertility and Extension Methods from July-October 1970 (given by the Foreign Training Department, now called CINADCO) together with 14 participants from different countries. While in Israel we stayed at the Savyon Hotel in Netanya and visited various places of agricultural interest as well as the Holy Places. I admire how your people deal with foreigners, are hard working with self-discipline which contributes to the marathon developments in Israel. It is evidenced by your vast agricultural developments through the application of modern technology. I am now a retired employee of the Department of Agriculture and presently managing a family farm. What I observed and learned in Israel have bearing on what I am doing now. I would like to thank staff who managed and supervised our class: Gershon Fradkin, T. Gans, S. Zuckerman, Ali Bialer, Dov Shamir, P. Kuperstein, B. Alperin and Ms. Ofra Braude. They contributed a lot to the success of our class. May your country and its people be showered by bountiful blessings from Almighty God. Shalom and Mabuhay.
Teofilo G. Andag
Navak Subdivision
Lanao, Kidapawan City 9400
THE PHILIPPINES
March, 1999
Dear Editor,
I would like to express my sincere wishes for a happy new year to you and the people who are members of Shalom Clubs.
I was in your country for two months, October-December, 1997, to participate in a course on Irrigation and Soil Management (CINADCO). It was a very useful to me. I learned a lot and got much experience and knowledge from it and made many friends thanks to it.
Now I still work in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Last year Kosto and Itay from your Ministry of Agriculture Extension Services came to my country and they were very good teachers for a short course on Orchard Management.
Shalom and toda raba.
Nguyen thi Nam
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Tuyenquang Province
VIETNAM
November, 1999
Dear Editor,
I wish to thank you whole-heartedly for the copies of Shalom that I have continuously received since 1984. I was a participant in the course the Role of Labor and Cooperation in the Service of Development organized by the International Institute for Development, Cooperation and Labor Studies the Afro-Asian Institute Histadrut. The Principal of the Institute at that time was Dr. Yehuda Paz, a very good administrator and lecturer. A tutor with whom I worked very closely throughout the three months course was Mark Levin, a very dedicated person and a good course supervisor. The lecturers whose performance I admired so deeply were N. Fein, Haim Benyamini and Zvi Galor. These five gentlemen were very capable persons. I have good reason to believe that they were the right persons for the right place. Their lectures always stimulated thinking and debates by the course participants. It really helped to widen our horizons.
Mr. Fein always impressed me, during lectures, at some point in time, if relevant, when he reflected on his experiences during the struggle against the British and the Arabs before the British Mandate over the area was over. He seemed to be an authority of the events (in the 1940s). The future of the Middle East is bright now, given the healthy and meaningful efforts now exerted with the support of the international community to reach a lasting peace. I feel highly privileged in having as my own teachers people of such high caliber.
Fellow participants whom I regarded as brothers were Norcos (Philippines), Vunipola (Tonga) and Ivosa (Papua New Guinea). My association with them along with the interesting nature of the course brought to me the feeling that I was at home and that the duration of the course was short.
In fact, the course helped me considerably. During my days with the trade union movement it helped me in the day-to-day performances of my leadership duties. In our effort to engage the union in income-generating activities the concepts that we addressed in the course also contributed substantially to developing our strategies in this regard. The lectures at the Institute stimulated thinking, debates and perhaps the desire for further studies. From 1987 to 1988 I studied Industrial Relations at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, where I graduated with a Diploma in IR. From 1994 to 1996 I went for further studies at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji, from which I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with double major in Public Administration and Sociology.
Perhaps it is unfortunate that I have left the trade union movement, joining the public service in 1997 as head of the labor and industrial division of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Cooperatives. In a way, though, this may be helpful, that there are people like myself who are more sympathetic to the workers, occupying government positions at policy-making level.
Thank you once again for Shalom.
Ngutu Awira
Ministry of Labor, Employment and Cooperatives
POB 69
Bairiki, Tarawa
KIRIBATI
August, 1999
Dear Editor,
Thank you very much for Shalom Magazine that I have been receiving since I left Israel in 1984. The information I have been receiving about Israel and the activities of people who have been in Israel are doing in their countries are very encouraging.
I am currently a head teacher of an academically oriented school. The inspiration of hard work I learned while in Israel is constantly challenging me.
I was greatly touched by the recent Shalom 1999-1 article, "An Aid for AIDS: Innovative Education Workshops." Apart from teaching I am involved in Youth Programs and Family Guidance and Counseling as a Counselor and AIDS/HIV is one of the problems we deal with. I would like to get more training to equip me with knowledge to help the youth and the couples who are still very negative about the disease. May God bless you in all your undertakings.
Francis Paul Ombogo
POB 313
Homa Bay
KENYA
This letter was received by Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Ariel Kerem:
April, 1999
Dear Ambassador Kerem,
We are writing to express our heartfelt thanks for the wonderful cooperation and support extended to us in the training of our member of staff in one of the Organizations most important areas of endeavor to assist needy women to come out of poverty. Since we are actively involved in income generating revolving loan fund projects in rural and urban areas, the training of Ms Fanaye Seifu has been an important step in building the capacity needed for efficiently and effectively implementing our women empowerment projects. Ms Seifu has been promoted to the post of Senior Credit Officer and has continued working on the revolving loan project with great determination. From practical work in the field, we have been able to notice that Ms Seifu is making use of the knowledge and rich experience of Israel gained during the course.
Once again we would like to thank you for the kind attention and work wonderfully done. We hope your Embassy will continue to assist in training our staff in order to strengthen the capacity of our organization.
Sincerely,
Alemu Hailu
Director
Women in Development
POB 31802
Addis Ababa
ETHIOPIA
Fanaye Seifu writes in her report on her course Small Scale Banking and Credit Institutions for Peoples Organizations, held October-November, 1998 at the International Institute Histadrut:
From my theoretical course and study visits I got a new perspective on cooperatives, NGOs, small scale banking and saving and the true meaning of poverty. Participants came from 26 different countries, different cultures and values but were able to come together as a unit to learn with the help of our able and invigorating tutors who assisted us in various ways. This coming together gave us the opportunity for cross-cultural exchange as well as for the development of good, friendly relationships which we treasure in our hearts. In the classroom we were motivated to have a vision of our human resource development and tools to communicate effectively. Within a very short space of time the knowledge and skill I gained from the course will no doubt serve as a springboard to help our organization move forward.
June, 1999
Dear Editor,
I was Acting Editor of the Weekend Spark weekly in Freetown when I was granted a UNESCO Fellowship to do a months seminar in independent newspaper management at the Aharon Ofri International Training Center in late November, 1996. I had never been to Israel and became a bit apprehensive when I learned that the training center was in Jerusalem, which I believed to be a divided city and the epicenter of the Israel-Arab conflict. My initial fears were soon dispelled by the visit and the human warmth of the director and his staff at the center as well as the friendly personnel of the Ramat Rachel Kibbutz Hotel, where the center is situated.
The course content was very rich and diverse. We were introduced to new concepts in media studies, management and the information superhighway. We had the privilege of meeting some of Israels scholars. Various visits to the new school of Media Studies in Tel Aviv and a three-day visit to Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and touring parts of the Galilee region all left an indelible impression on me. Equally enriching were visits to the Dea Sea and Masada. As a Christian I attached importance to visits to Holy Places.
Together with 21 colleagues from nine other English-speaking African countries, I was able to obtain a deep insight into the Middle East question thanks to the objective presentations made by Israeli, Arab-Israeli and Palestinian journalists. On my return to Sierra Leone in early 1997, I received positive feedback from a lot of my readers. My friendship with fellow participants has continued to today. I have been corresponding with Ken Bediako from the Accra, Ghana, Statesman, and Chief Bisong Etahoben of the Yaounde, Cameroon, Weekly Post. In February Robert Jamielson, Chairman of the Lilongwe, Malawi, Chronicle, was in Ghana as part of the Malawian government delegation on a study tour of the traditional institutions of power in Ghana.
I remain a faithful friend and loyal alumnus of the Aharon Ofri Center. Shalom!
Koyie Mansaray
The Standard Times
Freetown
SIERRA LEONE