August 2, 2009 / 12 Av 5769

80 years since the founding of the Jewish Agency, family tours organized by the Jewish Agency have become a traditional way of expressing commitment to the fulfillment of the Zionist dream.

Two families from Sydney Australia, Gary and Rose Levin and the Gutman family; Michael and Karen and their children Ellie and Justin, toured various Jewish Agency projects in the north and the Negev.

The delegation first toured Sderot and heard a survey on the Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror. They also met with Maya, whose house was damaged during the holiday of Hannukah. Repairs to the house were only recently completed.

Next on their tour was the Net@ project in Sderot. All the mission members participated in Net@ activities along with the students of the program. They later met with trustees of the Youth Futures program in Netivot. Deserving special note is the Zionist Federation of Australia which promised to support the program in Netivot.

The last leg of their tour was to the Ayalim Student Village in Moshav Yahini. After the tour, they watched a movie about the Ayalim Association and met with the students.

The delegation members expressed a great deal of satisfaction in their visit.  They felt it assisted in broadening their knowledge regarding Jewish Agency projects and Australia Keren Hayesod 's involvement in these programs.