JNF presents on Jan. 31: Israel feeding the world through education

On Sunday, January 31 the community is in for a rare treat with the special Jewish National Fund (JNF) Edmonton event entitled ‘Israel feeding the world through education.’ The event takes place at the Fantasyland Hotel and the special guest presenter is Hanni Arnon, Director of the Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT).

Arnon’s presentation will give us an insider’s view of the Central Arava. She will describe how AICAT is making that area viable despite the challenges from excessive heat and lack of water. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the truly remarkable story of AICAT and Israel’s demonstration of their global responsibility by educating over 1200 students a year from several countries throughout Southeast Asia.

Hanni Arnon is an educator and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education. In 1986 she moved to the Arava, a sparsely populated and somewhat isolated area in Israel. Together with her husband, Moti, an agronomist, they settled in Moshav Idan, the newest agricultural community in Central Arava. Having established a successful farm, Hanni emerged as one of Idan’s leaders, focusing mainly on promoting education, culture and welfare.

 In 1994, using her agricultural and educational experience, she founded the Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training – AICAT. AICAT’s goal is to educate students from agricultural countries by providing them with the tools and knowledge required to create a successful agricultural business in their home countries.

The students stay in Central Arava for 10 months during which time, they attend courses in agriculture, business management, marketing, finance, computer skills, entrepreneurship, etc. In addition, they also spend time working in the fields under the direction of the Arava’s farmers. The students are exposed to modern agricultural techniques and technologies, as well as to Jewish tradition, Israel’s creativity and to the Arava community pioneer spirit. AICAT promotes the belief that “If you give a person a fish you feed him for a day; Teach a person to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

As an educator, Hanni believes that education provides people with the tools to change their lives as well as serve as a bridge between different people from different backgrounds, religions and nationalities.

Ever since its establishment, AICAT’s program has had a tremendous impact on the lives of the people in the Arava, creating high quality jobs for its residents and ultimately promoting development in the region. Hanni’s AICAT has also had a profound impact on the lives of all the students who have participated in their program from agricultural communities throughout Asia and Africa.

Hanni’s vision is to increase AICAT’s impact by building an international campus for agriculture studies in Central Arava which provides different programs to people from around the globe.

This special event is timed perfectly to coincide with Tu Bi’Shvat and in lieu of an entry charge, please make a donation to Edmonton JNF’s 2016 Tu Bi’Shvat Campaign. Proceeds from the campaign will go towards creating a green gateway to Eilat in Eretz Yisroel.  Dessert, coffee and tea will be served and kashrut will be observed.

‘Israel feeding the world through education’ with special presenter Hanni Arnon will take place on Sunday, January 31 at 7 pm at the Fantasyland Hotel in Conference Room #10. For more information about the event and the Tu Bi’Shvat campaign, contact edm@jnf.ca or call 780-481-7881. Visit jnfedmonton.ca.