Bank Hapoalim approves NIS 3 Million for Envelope reconstruction

By LEE SIVILIA

JULY 17, 2024 10:40

Updated: JULY 17, 2024 18:11

Bank Hapoalim during support for pre-military preparatory schools in the Gaza Envelope (photo credit: PR) — Bank Hapoalim during support for pre-military preparatory schools in the Gaza Envelope

(photo credit: PR)

Bank Hapoalim's Resurgence Workers Fund supports the establishment of prep schools in Western Negev with NIS 3 million, creating branches in Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, Nir Am, Sa'ad, and Dorot.

As part of the move, branches of pre-military preparatory schools will be established in accordance with the requests of the settlements: a branch of the Mrahavim-Dror preparatory school will be established in Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, a branch of the Derech Prat preparatory school will be established in Kibbutz Nir Am, a branch of the Yonathan preparatory school will be established in Kibbutz Sa'ad, and a branch of the Meitarim-Lakhish preparatory school will be established in Kibbutz Dorot.

The goals of the plan for the establishment of the branches in the surrounding settlements: strengthening community resilience - the location of the preparatory schools within the local communities will be a source of strength and resilience, and will contribute to building stable and strong communities. Assistance with working hands - the preparatory schools will provide an essential workforce for rehabilitation and meeting the economic needs, including in the fields of agriculture, industry and other tasks.

Assistance in the fields of education - the preparatory schools will be integrated into the formal and informal education systems, and will be an important helping force in the coming years of reconstruction. A center of attraction for settlement - the presence of the preparatory schools will be an anchor for connecting groups of young people, graduates of the preparatory school, their friends and families for settlement in the area, thus contributing to regional prosperity. Since the announcement of the Poalim Litkuma fund, the public committee met for the third time and approved projects amounting to NIS 41 million. The projects have already started for the well-being of the residents of the Otef and the Western Negev.

Reuven Krupik, Chairman of Bank Hapoalim's Board of Directors: "As part of Bank Hapoalim's long-standing commitment to society and the community, the Poalim Litkuma fund established by the bank for 100 million focuses on promoting personal, community and economic resilience of residents, communities and businesses in the surrounding area. In the establishment of pre-military preparatory schools that will be located within the local communities, the values that we chose to promote are embodied: an anchor and a source of strength for the affected communities, encouraging work and educating our future generation for social impact and meaningful service in the IDF."

Avishai Berman, CEO of the Council of Pre-Military Preparatory Schools: "Mission and pioneering are a central part of the DNA of the Pre-Military Preparatory Schools and the plan to establish pre-military preparatory schools in the Western Negev is a clear expression of the same spirit that blows in the enterprise. To our great joy, Bank Hapoalim saw the importance of the plans, especially at this time, and helps turn a vision into reality. The new preparatory schools and the hundreds of young people who chose them will be partners in the restoration of the communities in the Takuma region and will bring with them the good news - where they tried to bring about our destruction, we create growth."

The Poalim Litkuma fund is headed by a public committee chaired by Major General Amram Mitzna and other public figures, which determines the fund's policy, makes decisions dealing with project financing and monitors its activities on an ongoing basis. Since the announcement of the aid fund, the committee has met 3 times and approved projects amounting to NIS 41 million. The projects have already started for the welfare of the residents of the Gaza Envelope and the Western Negev.

The public committee of the Poalim Litkuma fund includes three other public figures: Prof. Yifat Biton, professor of law, the president of the Achava academic college and the chairman of the board of heads of the public academic colleges, Ms. Sigal Moran, who served as the director general of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security and as the head of the regional council Bnei Shimon, and Ms. Keren Turner Eyal, a partner in the Vintage venture capital fund, who served as CEO of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transportation. The members of the committee on behalf of Bank Hapoalim are Amit Overkovitz, deputy to the CEO and the person in charge of the Human Resources Division, Adv. Yael Almog, deputy to the CEO and the chief legal advisor, Dr. Amir Bachar, the bank's chief auditor, and Keren Mazur, chief of staff of the chairman of Bank Hapoalim. Reuven Krupik, chairman of the bank's board of directors serves as an observer in the fund.