TORONTO — The people of Sderot will always have an ally in Canada’s Jewish community, UIA Federations Canada says.

Sderot children got a chance to play and relax at UIAFC-funded camps in Sderot in July. [Jewish Agency photo]

Linda Kislowicz, UIAFC’s CEO,  said in statement earlier this month that her organization, which raises money for Jewish initiatives in Canada and abroad,  will “always be there to help fortify and strengthen a secure future for [Sderot’s] brave and highly motivated residents.”

UIAFC said it’s upholding an “ongoing promise” to the embattled Israeli town, and to other periphery communities in Israel, to always come to the aid of its citizens.

“Just as Qassam rockets [from Gaza] continue to fall – even after the declaration of a ceasefire – so, too, will Canadian support always be there for Israel and the people of Sderot,” Kislowicz said.

UIAFC has dedicated $3.5 million over a three-year period – starting last year via the Israel Emergency Campaign –  for the people of Sderot. It said it has also received another $3 million in funds from partner agencies, including its Israeli office (UIAC), Keren Hayesod, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

UIAFC has allocated more than $125,000 for summer programs in Sderot in 2008. These include funding for summer camps, transportation and money for the “Youth City of Sderot” program, a project administered by Israel’s Ministry of Public Security’s Community and Crime Prevention Department, which organizes a week of games, entertainment and food for thousands of Sderot youth. The program is now in its second year.

Yossi Tanuri, director general of UIAC, told The CJN via e-mail that to date, nearly $2.5 million of the funds have been spent, with $1.5 million funding a “short-term need for summer camps outside of missile range” for Sderot youth, and for “trauma relief programs” at home, in schools and at walk-in clinics.

Another $1 million was allocated for the construction of a “fortified second floor” to make Sderot’s main community centre Qassam-proof this year.

“Our two initial goals have already been achieved: creating sustainability of programs by offering a three year commitment and anchoring young communities in Sderot by funding their programs for youth [and] creating a comprehensive coalition of service providers for youth,” Tanuri said.

He added: “While we are already observing and benefitting from the initial fruits of UIAFC investment in Sderot, [our] Israel office… together with our local partners in Sderot, envision a deepening of dialogue between local organizations that will lead to new joint ventures in the future.”

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