Latet
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Latet (Hebrew: לתת, lit. to give)
Israeli Humanitarian Aid was established with the aim to reduce poverty in order to build a better and just society.
Latet Organisation was founded in 1996 and runs throughout Israel, serving as a national umbrella organisation to 150 NGO’s and local organisations in all sectors, it is regularly assists 60,000 families a year.
Latet has worked with all populations in Israel working to create a better and more just society. Latet’s mission is to reduce poverty and address the most pressing problems facing the weaker elements in Israeli society. This is achieved through many channels including; providing assistance to impoverished populations nationwide, motivating the civil society to give and to have mutual responsibility and by leading change in the national priorities.
The organisation is a non-profit organisation. Latet is funded by donations only, with 95% of the contributions from both civil society and the business sector in Israel. Latet is operating with the help of more than 8,000 permanent volunteers around the country who give over 270,000 volunteer hours per year collectively in the various programs operated.
Latet is an umbrella organisation for 150 local organisations (associations, soup kitchens and departments of social services in the local authorities) operating in 95 communities across the country and in all sectors. The cooperation of the Latet organisation with the NGOs yields ongoing constant assistance to 60,000 families and 200,000 - civilians living in dire straits.
The organisation operates with full transparency and is audited by Ernst & Young & Kost, Forer, Gabbay and Kasierer.
Areas of Action ...
Within its activities the Latet Organisation initiates and operates a number of programs in various fields:
Operational Concept In the framework of the program, three logistic centres have been established in the Negev, the centre and the Galilee, used as regional “food banks". The food inventory management is done through a computerised system, with strict control procedures and supervision. Recruitment sources of food for the venture are based on three main channels:
Food Rescue Short term food rescue is based on the strategic partnership with the food industry and is being regularly undertaken with the food producers and companies. The control procedures and strict supervision of the logistics centres contribute to the efficient collection and distribution of the products. The organisation leverages every 1₪ spent on operation to 8₪ value of food. In honour of the effective work done, the organisation received a certificate for effectiveness by Midot.
Raising social awareness and taking actions for policy change Latet operates in various ways to bring about policy change in the field of poverty and social inequality by promoting legislation, filing appeals in the Supreme Court, extensive lobbying activities aimed at reducing inequality and food insecurity, annually publishing the Alternative Poverty Report, and reaching out to the general public to increase civic involvement.
The Alternative Poverty Report The Alternative Poverty Report seeks to demonstrate the personal and physical aspect of poverty and the poor, hiding behind the dry numbers and statistics published by government institutions. The report reflects the current situation on the ground, in regards to the poverty phenomenon, through mirroring the reality and challenges that the people in need are faced with while living in social, nutritional, and economic distress. The report succeeds to present a thorough analysis of the problem of poverty in Israel.
Collecting food from the public During the years of its existence, the organisation ran dozens of campaigns to collect food from the public in retail chains, schools and companies. Tens of thousands of volunteers took part in this activity and about two million Israelis donated tens of thousands of tons of food.
Food Procurement Purchased food takes place regularly and extensively from dozens of manufacturers, suppliers and wholesalers in order to complete the necessary products for the basic food basket.
Programs run by Latet include ...
City without Hunger – an innovative, urban-based program for social change that offers an effective and sustainable model for combating food insecurity in a defined geographic area. The program includes a municipal leadership group, a volunteering framework, infrastructure for food collection and distribution, and activities which raise awareness. The basis for the project can be found in the steps taken towards leveraging existing community resources.
The program aims to mobilise an entire city, leveraging and utilising local resources to the fullest degree possible,
this is so that in 3 to 5 years there will no longer be a nutritionally insecure population.
The National Initiative for Nutritional Security - The Initiative provides assistance to tens of thousands of families suffering from food insecurity.
The program works to rescue, collect and distribute food, whilst empowering local organisations and raising awareness of the Israeli society to acknowledge and work upon the problem of food shortages and poverty.
Aid for life Provides holistic assistance to impoverished Holocaust survivors living below the poverty line in Israel.
They are supported through regular visits, food delivery's, medication coupons, emergency assistance, and security renovations. The program answers to the specific needs of Impoverished Holocaust survivors; It delivers a message of mutual responsibility and care. Within the framework of the program, the survivors gain physical, social and emotional help, which includes constant monthly assistance in food that allows the maintaining of food security and has a direct positive influence on their health. In addition the program finances the purchase of medicines, allowing the survivors to regularly receive the drugs they need, and an emergency fund used to provide for acute treatments and accessories in the health field for their daily functioning. Aid is given and is accessible to Holocaust survivors constantly by regular volunteer who creates a social support network and a personal and continuous contact with the survivors.
The implementation of the program is possible thanks to the support of the Foundation pour la Memoire de la Shoah and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
In addition, the renovation sub-program is executed jointly with the Aid to Life program and The Holocaust Restitution Company of Israel., The program is renovating the apartments of survivors across the country, as to improve the quality of life and personal security. The program provide for the basic needs arising from the limitations of age, their physical condition and their special needs on an individual basis.
'Latet Youth - Noar Latet Education for volunteerism, leadership and social entrepreneurship skills for youth.
Recently acknowledged officially by the ministry of education as a youth organisation, 'Latet Youth' Is designated to help, encourage and facilitate Disadvantaged and at-risk youth as so to engage in volunteerism and leadership to create social change in their communities. The program aims to allow for the Youth to break the multigenerational poverty cycle. The program is creating real and substantial change in the lives of disadvantaged youths, providing them with the tools to break the vicious cycle of social and economical neglect.
The program operates in 65 education institutions throughout the school year; amongst about 1800 students aged 14–17 every year, coming from different sectors of the Israeli society. The program Introduce students to the humanitarian world. The participants are exposed to volunteering possibilities and at the advance level of the activity they initiate a sustainable and ongoing project for the community in accordance with the existing social need.
Latet Atid (To Give a Future) Micro Entrepreneurial Development Program for women living within the borders of the poverty line in order to lead them to financial independence.
Latet Atid is a micro-finance and business development project which economically empowers women, living near or at poverty level in southern and central Israel, by being guided to create an incoming-generating small business Latet Atid provides participating women with a year-long business training in collaboration with the Centre for Small Business Development (MATI), mentorship and a micro-loan, with the goal of supporting sustainable financial independence.