February 30, 2007 Students from around the world at ORT America convention The positive effect that ORT projects have on students around the world has been highlighted by the remarks of eight young people who attended the inaugural ORT America convention in Washington. Students, and one graduate, from the multicultural Kadourie School in northern Israel, which is among the dozens of schools to have benefited from World ORTs Kadima Mada (Science Journey) project, were joined by mature students from ORT Mexico and New Yorks Bramson ORT College, as well as a teenager from ORT Mishpachteinu in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. The students were present throughout the convention, participating in workshops and discussing their experiences with lay leaders and donors. Kadourie graduate Leat Cohen-Salamon, 21, has been assigned to her old school as an instructor as part of her national service. She told the convention that she had been able to see the impact of the new technology laboratory World ORT had installed this year at the school, which boasts Jewish, Muslim, Bedouin, Christian, Circassian, and Ethiopian as well as immigrants from the Former Soviet Union. It is only with this type of financial aid, guidance and friendship that Kadourie can continue to provide their students with the things necessary to reach their full potential. I see that the students coming to Kadourie to learn are brighter and more motivated each year, so for the future of Kadourie and its students we must be able to provide these students with the tools they need to succeed. Qanshaw Avgana, 18, a 12th grade Kadourie student majoring in physics and chemistry, agreed with Leat. Qanshaw, a Muslim Circassian, said: The donations received from World ORT mean that students have more computers and will not have to share with other students and so will be able to do better work by spending the time they need on the computers. Leat Cohen-Salmon sings Hasheket Shenishar, The Calm that Remains, at the convention. Fellow Kadourie 12th grader Ivan Savchenko, who was born in Birobidzhan, said World ORT had solved the schools problem of a lack of computers. Technology is developing very fast and Kadourie wants to maintain its high level of students and they cant do that without the proper funding, he said. Other students at the convention included Mishael Joshua Solodkin Posternak, 23, who studied engineering and digital environment at ORT Mexicos Digital Media Centre, and Rachel Riska, Israeli-born child to Ethiopian parents who plans to study law after national service. Daniel Ephraim, who runs his own graphic design business after studying Computer Information Systems at ORT Bramson College, also attended the convention. Another attendee, Yael Sirota, 29, a mother of a seven-year-old daughter, is currently studying to become a medical assistant at Bramson ORT College.