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FROM THE
DESK OF
YONI BOGOT
Dear Friends and Partners,
The fact that this report is only being released as we are already several months into the new year is perhaps the greatest proof of the reality in which we find ourselves. It’s been a truly chaotic year, absent of any sort of calm or normalcy and certainly unlike anything we’ve dealt with before.
Like every citizen of Israel- and most of the world- here too at the Summit Institute we’ve dealt with the “ins and outs” of periods of quarantine and national lockdowns. Yet despite those immense challenges, we have continued to provide our therapeutic and rehabilitation services for our foster families and foster children as well as victims of mental and other abuse.
Wehavelearnedhowtogrowstronger,howtolisten,andhowtoembraceeachother- evenfromadistance.
Like the rest of Israel, we also had to confront a period of rocket fire targeting our country. We were there for our foster families and children who live under that threat, and many who contend with anxiety and even trauma as a result.
Through it all, we have persevered in our effort to maintain normalcy. We made sure that we were providing psychological support and therapy, and that our families were being regularly visited and receiving the care and education they so need and we were constantly on the alert to ensure that any issues were being addressed.
Our staff continued to meet as needed for group and individual training, and our administrative and financial offices remained in full operation via online communication.
I take considerable pride that despite the very difficult conditions, we continued to develop new programs and improve our existing ones. We opened a professional course dedicated to reducing the risk of suicide among those we treat, and we expanded our Nitzan program that helps women who have been the victims of sexual abuse. We renovated and opened a conference hall and sports center that allows us to facilitate larger gatherings.
Throughout the whole year, plans for our flagship program, ”The Summit House” continued to develop and we are hopeful that within several months the first tractors will move into place. Our vision is for a five-story home for Summit that will house our community of adolescents, alongside a sports center, offices, foster-child therapy facilities, among other services.
I once again welcome the chance to invite you all to become a partner in this historic effort to help make “The Summit House” a reality.
I also would use this opportunity to thank the staff of the Summit Institute who have never wavered in their commitment to our goals and are so dedicated to our special children and those who rely on our rehabilitation services. They are remarkable in how they always think of others and are responsible for making everything we accomplish possible.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for your support over the past year and look forward to continuing to have you as our partners on behalf of Summit.
With best wishes for a happier and healthier year ahead.
Yoni Bogat, Director General
Annual Activities Report
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