Shalom,

Following the end of the 2018-2019 school year, I would like to update you on Athena Fund’s latest activities, which have brought us to new heights. Thank you so much for your support.

The Miracle of Boris
We would like to share with you the moving story told by teacher Moran Sivan from the Ofarim School in Haifa. The story is about a child with special needs named Boris (not his real name), and how the iPad changed his life.

From a child who walked around the classroom frustrated and crying, Boris became a child who communicates, expresses himself and learns via the iPad, and enters YouTube by himself to find songs that he loves. He even learned many words in English. He became one of the smartest students in the school.

To read the full story about Boris, click here.

23,400 Teachers Have Received a “Digital Toolbox”

To date, 23,400 teachers instructing some 560,000 students in 1,981 schools and kindergartens across 153 local authorities throughout Israel have received a "digital toolbox" from Athena Fund. Each digital toolbox includes a laptop or iPad, a wireless printer, 120 hours of professional training, a 3-year hardware warranty, 3-year technical support, and education credits, as well as a projector and Wi-Fi in each classroom.

In the upcoming 2019-2020 school year, approximately 3,000 additional school and kindergarten teachers will receive a digital toolbox within the framework of Athena Fund's various programs.

To read more, click here

International Recognition

The success of Athena Fund has led to international recognition of its activities. Athena Fund has received Special Consultative Status from the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and membership in the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). Based on its familiarity with Athena Fund, UNESCO has recommended the implementation of our programs in other countries.

I have been invited to lecture on the success of the Athena’s programs in a number of UN international conferences on technology and education, which have been held in Europe, Africa and China.

TEPE Conference in Krakow

In May 2019 I was invited to give a lecture at the Teacher Education Policy in Europe (TEPE) conference held in Krakow, Poland. The subject of my lecture was Athena Fund’s activities and the success of our special education program in creating miracles for children with disabilities.

TEPE is an academic network that brings together teacher educators, educational researchers, policy makers, teachers and practitioners from Europe and beyond to discuss and identify key elements that contribute to strengthening teacher education and the quality and professionalism of teachers in schools.

For the full article, click here.

UN Conference on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

In June 2019 I participated in the annual United Nations conference on the rights of persons with disabilities, which was held at the UN headquarters in New York. Held within the framework of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), to which Athena Fund holds Special Consultative Status, the conference was attended by representatives of various countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from across the globe.

For the full article, click here.

Plans for 2019-2020 School Year

During the 2019-2020 school year we plan to continue providing laptops and iPads for school and kindergarten teachers within the framework of Athena Fund's various programs. This is possible thanks to the contributions of Athena's strategic partners: Bank Massad, the Professional Advancement Fund of the Israel Teachers Union, the Israeli Ministry of Education, the Ted Arison Family Foundation, the Sylvan Adams Family Foundation, UIA Canada, our other program partners, and local authorities in Israel.

Please share this update with anyone who might be interested in participating in our programs – such as mayors, managers and directors of education departments, school principals and teachers – as well as donors, volunteers and others who would like to help contribute to our continued success.

For more information about Athena Fund, please visit our site: www.en.athenafund.org.

If you would like to make a donation for teacher empowerment in Israel, click here

All donations in any amount are welcome.

Thank you for your continued support of our mission to empower the teachers of Israel.

Warm regards,

Uri Ben - Ari
President and Founder
Athena Fund