50 members of Save a Child’s Heart partners and affiliates from Israel, USA, Canada, UK, Kenya, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Romania, China, Tanzania, and Ethiopia gathered in Tel Aviv for an intense three days of sessions, meetings, events and activities. Former SACH patient Yared Wolde, also traveled from Ethiopia to be part of the 20th anniversary celebrations.

The meetings, which took place at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, began with an overview presented by Save a Child’s Heart Executive Director in Israel, Simon Fisher. In this overview the Save a Child’s Heart activities and achievements in the past 20 years were presented to all the members. This session was followed by presentations by the different partners of Save a Child’s Heart from China, Romania, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The partners presented their achievements and plans for the future.

A special session was dedicated to Save a Child’s Heart and Rotary. Rotary members came to speak and present the ongoing cooperation.  

Additional sessions and discussions focused on fundraising. Save a Child’s Heart US Executive Director, David Litwack held a discussion on the various aspects of raising funds in different countries, and members of the SACH affiliates shared opinions about best practices in this area.

Representatives of the different countries presented their PR achievements and discussions were held  about joining efforts in the level of international PR. A special session was dedicated to the documentary “A Heart Beat Away,” a full length documentary about Save a Child’s Heart. Post screening, A Question and Answer session with the film maker was held.

In addition, the board members met with our Palestinian partners from Gaza and heard from them about the ongoing cooperation with the Save a Child’s Heart medical team.

Robert Baruch from Save a Child’s Heart Holland gave a presentation about the “Symphony of the Heart” concerts planned to take place in five cities around the world to expose Save a Child’s Heart and raise funds for the program.

Randi Weiss, Save a Child’s Heart Young leadership director gave a presentation together with Mike Brown, from New York, about the Young Leadership achievements and plans for the future.

Additionally, the delegates attended the “Symphony of the Heart” gala concert to celebrate 20 years of SACH and to mark the start of construction of the Children’s Hospital at the Wolfson Medical Center.

They also attended the cornerstone ceremony of the Children’s Hospital at the Wolson Medical Center.

During a visit to the SACH Children’s Home in Holon, they participated in the dedication of a room in memory of SACH President, Dr. Arie Schachner’s parents who were Holocaust survivors.

The delegation traveled to the residence of Head of the EU delegation in Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, to mark the ‘Heart of the Matter’ program which promotes cooperation between Palestinian and Israelis by providing opportunities for engagement, and focusing on the common goal of improving pediatric cardiac care for Palestinian children.

Photos by: Sheila Shalhevet