Israeli co-operatives are helping nations recover after earthquakes through successful training programmes and relief work. IsraAid, founded by Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED), has provided support to communities in Haiti and Japan after the natural disasters that devastated people’s lives and homes. NISPED was founded as a non-profit organisation by co-operatives and one of its aims is to promote the growth of the movement in Israel and developing countries. These projects range from a craft co-operative in Haiti to training for nurses in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Japan. Since it began its work in Watari, Japan, IsraAid has expanded from one small group to 30 various groups spread across eight towns in Northern Japan’s Tohoku region. Mully Dor, Chairperson of the NISPED board and board member for IsraAid, visited Tokyo, Japan, recently to follow up on the PTSD training for nurses. He met with Hiroki Tokubo, executive director, and Miwako Takato, chief of nurses in the Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, and managing director, Keiso Fujitani, to talk about ways to launch new programmes to support the efforts of the people of Tohoku. Said Mr Dor: “This joint project is a good way to express the solidarity among the Japanese and Israeli co-op movement in the International Year of Co-operatives. It provides an opportunity to captivate the attention of national governments, the business community and the general public on the advantages provided by the co-operative model and co-operation among co-op movements.” IsraAid also worked in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010, where it developed the Haiti Grows project last year, which aims to help communities improve crop cultivation and help to eliminate hunger and provide better incomes in rural areas. The project was launched by President Michel Martelly in a ceremony in Leogane, based outside the capital Port-au-Prince. The organisation also developed the Dam Dam Co-operative in Leogane, which has helped women who were affected by the earthquake since September 2010. It currently brings together 75 participants, from three communities and provides a sustainable, long-term income source for the women and their families. The co-op produces objects made exclusively out of salvaged materials that is either found or provided by the local NGOs. The women are now looking to undergo intensive business training so that they can manage the project. During the 2010 earthquake, IsraAid sent emergency relief and assistance to members and staff of ICA member National Co-operative Council located in Port-au-Prince. Picture: Haiti President Michel Martelly (right) launches the Haiti Grows initiative.
