“I feel a part of something very big and global. I have seen that the work I do locally in my country has an impact here in Israel, and also, that what happens here in Israel also happens to me.”
Participants of the first Latin America Youth Conference said on their last day in Israel (Jan 4th) they were returning home with a renewed sense of purpose and a sense of inspiration for future projects.
“I feel a part of something very big and global,” noted Alvero Vicune of Chile. “I have seen that the work I do locally in my country has an impact here in Israel, and also, that what happens here in Israel also happens to me.”
Starting the day in the south with a bike ride through the Yatir forest, the participants, -who came from Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, and Cuba- got to plant their own trees in the Tzora Forest planting center before returning to the KKL-JNF headquarters in Tel Aviv for their final session.
“It has been very inspirational to see the great things that can be done despite all the difficulties. To see the desert bloom is to make a dream come true,” said Lucia Torres, of Ecuador after finishing planting her tree.
Yonathan Fleitman, a long-time KKL Mexico volunteer, noted that the visit had been very significant for him.
“With all the many years of working with KKL, coming here, I see that KKL is not just history but I can actually feel it with my own body,” he said. “I can understand the reality much better. We usually just talk about KKL but here we have actually lived it. The more we are able to live KKL, the more we are able to work for KKL.”
Esau Schramin of Brazil said that participating in the conference has made him realize that through his work with KKL Brazil he is working on improving environmental challenges improving the future for all people.
“In the Torah God tells us to go and be a “light unto the nations” and we are continuing to do that by being an example to the world. With good will, we can make it happen and set a good example to make a better world like we are doing here,” he said. “I am going home with a lot of ideas and examples of things from here which I can apply in Brazil.”
The nine-day conference KKL Latin American youth leadership, first of its kind, had shown the participants the myriad of projects that KKL-JNF undertakes in Israel, while also providing them an opportunity to network and share ideas on a larger platform, said Ariel Goldgewicht, director of the KKL Latin American Desk.
“Now when they go back to their respective countries they have a wider connection with KKL-JNF throughout Latin America. They can now feel part of a larger whole, which can focus on local projects while at the same time widen its horizons to include larger joint projects," he said.
By visiting the projects they have been able to see how many people in Israel are actually affected by the work KKL-JNF does, noted Sofia Dulcini, of KKL-JNF Uruguay.
“Now we have a deeper and wider connection with KKL-JNF,” added Cynthia Schejtman of Mexico. “We know who the people are and we know how to talk to each other. I think this week living KKL-JNF has given me more information than all my years in KKL Mexico. Before, I didn’t know the magnitude of KKL-JNF’s work. I didn’t think I was going to fall in love with this the way I did. Now I have a basis on which to tell people that it is not just about trees.”
Julio Gun, Science and Environmental Education director for KKL Argentina, said the conference helped him realize that they need to begin teaching people in their countries about KKL-JNF of the present and not just KKL-JNF of the past.
“In this conference I learned about KKL of the future and now we have to go back and tell others about the KKL of the future too,” he said. “If we teach them about the future we are protagonists in the story. If we tell them only about the past it is about somebody else. We should have a vocation of greatness. KKL-JNF is not just about trees and water.”
“With KKL I see the future of Israel,” added Aliet Achkienasi of Cuba. “It is incredible what KKL-JNF does in the Arava and its work with children. It is inspiring.”
Fredel Kajomovitz of KKL Mexico, who is now living in Israel, noted that KKL-JNF is part of the success of Israel.
“We can work and also have influence in our countries. We can create projects, not just bring in money but have an impact on things. Thank you for investing in us and utilizing us. We also have the opportunity now to give back,” she said. “We don’t only want to receive but we want to give back.”
Debbie Amiga of KKL Mexico said that after planting her own tree she realized how important that act was.
“I can go back and say “Yes, KKL is about trees, but let me show you how much more than that it is.” Beyond your tree you will see something else that you can fall in love with,” she said. “KKL is social, economic, environmental, high tech. KKL-JNF is everything. Now we can see how we in Mexico can help KKL-JNF and Israel.”
After listening to the participants, KKL-JNF Vice Chairman Hernan Felman said: “We are convinced that this congress is the future of KKL-JNF. This congress allows us to work with the generation that will need to take hold of the reigns of the KKL-JNF of tomorrow.”
Read this article in Spanish