On Thursday 24 October 2002, two new ORT Technology Centres were inaugurated in Riga, Latvia, at the Dubnov Jewish School and at the Jewish Community Centre. Israel’s Ambassador to the Baltic States, Avraham Benjamin, welcomed the distinguished delegation to the Dubnov School inauguration. He told those present that he is always pleased to welcome ORT representatives to the region, because it means that something is going to change for the better. ‘The re-establishment of ORT’s activities in this part of the world has gone hand in hand with the rebuilding of Jewish communities,’ Benjamin said. ‘We welcome here today the leaders of an organisation that knows from experience that from a grass roots level it is possible to change people’s lives for the better, to change their self image in positive ways and to influence society as a whole. ‘Your contribution today is in the best traditions of Jewish Philanthropy, but it is more than just that. It is also the contribution from the Jewish world to the long term development of Latvia itself.’ The ORT Centre at the Dubnov School was made possible through the generous support of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, the Clore Foundation and Terri and Jean de Gunzburg. The ORT Centre at the Jewish Community Centre in Riga was made possible through the generous support of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, the Clore Foundation, Terri and Jean de Gunzburg, Mauricio Merikanskas and The American Joint Distribution Committee.