Yael Foundation is an international philanthropic fund that finances projects in the field of Jewish and general education worldwide. The fund began its operations in 2020 with a clear and ambitious goal. Yael Foundation aims to ensure every Jewish child in the world has access to the highest level of education. The main objective of these investments is to expand community opportunities and build a stable future. Through quality programs, children get the opportunity to feel a strong and living connection to their roots.
Values and Operating Principles of Yael Foundation
In its daily work, the fund does not try to introduce artificial or unified models of upbringing. Yael Foundation provides financial support to those organizations and initiatives that are already actively working on the ground. This includes general education schools, kindergartens, valuable after-school programs, and local educational projects.
Yael Foundation acts as a reliable partner and a catalyst for qualitative changes. By providing the necessary resources, local institutions significantly raise their academic standards. As a result, these updated schools become the most attractive and priority choice for parents. The activities of Yael Foundation are based on several key principles:
- Flexibility of engagement: the fund adapts to the unique needs of each individual school, considering its size, culture, and demographics.
- Long-term relationship building: Yael Foundation maintains continuous communication with grantees and analyzes the results of teachers’ work.
- Continuous improvement: stimulating school development through various programs that help institutions evolve.
Scope and Results of Yael Foundation Work
Yael Foundation helps Jewish communities in Europe, Latin America, and other regions of the world. The organization supports communities where it is difficult for families to provide children with quality and safe education. The headquarters of the organization is located in Jerusalem. It is from here that all international grant programs, educational projects, and capital investments of the fund are coordinated.
The results of the fund’s work over five years:
- The work of the organization covers 45 countries worldwide across different continents.
- Programs and educational processes successfully connect 101 cities.
- Financial and structural support has been received by 145 educational institutions.
- The total number of children who gained access to new opportunities is 29,362 students.
Key Initiatives and Educational Programs of the Fund
An important area of Yael Foundation work is the development of a unique network of premium schools called Yael Schools. These are top-tier international standard IB schools operating in Jewish communities. They offer a harmonious combination of academic knowledge, traditions, arts, and modern entrepreneurship. Two flagship campuses are currently under active design. Yael Foundation also invests in capital projects for the construction and renovation of infrastructure objects. The current active building and investment portfolio is valued at €21.9 million, which is directed toward purchasing commercial real estate, land acquisitions, and construction work. Projects to update educational buildings and community structures are already being implemented in different cities.
In parallel, vibrant informal projects are being created. Among them, the international summer camp Yael Camp is worth highlighting.The Yael Camp is the flagship experiential program of the Yael Foundation, a global philanthropic investor in Jewish identity and educational excellence.This event lasts 2.5 days and includes lectures and strategic workshops for educators from 45 countries.
Specifics of Education in Europe and the US
In North America, the system of informal education developed as a response to the dispersion of the population. Camps, youth movements, and leadership platforms became places for emotional and social development. They create continuity through shared rituals and friendship. Such formats provide time for the practical mastering of traditions and the gradual development of leadership qualities among peers.
In Europe, the situation looks different. Local communities are usually smaller in size and more tightly knit. History directly influences daily decisions, and security defines the structure of life. Informal platforms outside of schools are less common here, and there is a shortage of trained professionals in this field. Therefore, relationships within the community are of immense importance.
Effective tools from American camps cannot be transferred without changes into the realities of Bulgaria, Belgium, or Italy. In the European context, it is necessary to first build deep trust with families. Informal projects become successful only when they emerge from within the community itself. At the same time, the European experience of building deep relationships is useful for American colleagues who seek to bring confidence back to their classrooms.
Benefits of International Experience Exchange
When school leaders from different countries meet for joint learning, a significant shift occurs. Yael Foundation actively supports international experience exchange programs and partnerships between schools. American principals during visits to European colleagues often note the incredible closeness of relationships between people and a serious attitude toward collective responsibility.
Interaction within Yael Foundation projects leads to a qualitative adaptation of ideas. Educators return to their institutions with a clear understanding of new methods and gain motivation to act differently. A child’s cultural and national self-awareness is built gradually through consistency and safe spaces where their presence matters to those around them. Informal methods work on the boundary between family and formal lessons, leaving a long-term emotional trace.
Investment in the Future: Yael Foundation Strategy
Rising tensions in society make the work of forming a steady identity vital. When communities are ready to learn from one another without comparison or hierarchy, collective efforts become much more effective. Yael Foundation creates conditions for such global cooperation, ensuring the systemic development of Jewish education. The organization acts as a platform for dialogue that unites resources and knowledge to achieve a common goal.
The proactive approach of Yael Foundation helps open new educational centers in regions with limited access to quality schools. The founders of the organization are convinced that success is possible only with comprehensive support for teachers and creating conditions for students’ creativity. The main recommendation for families remains unchanged: investments in quality and comprehensive education create a solid life foundation for a child, develop self-awareness, and provide a lasting sense of belonging to their community.