Real Meets London

After exploring the work of Uri and Yael Poliavich through their foundation, I'm genuinely in awe of how they've transformed a personal vision into a worldwide movement that now touches tens of thousands of lives. What started in 2020 as a response to Uri's own childhood experience of growing up without Jewish education in Soviet Ukraine has blossomed into an organization operating in 41 countries, supporting 64 day schools, 20 Sunday schools, 18 kindergartens, and reaching nearly 17,000 students through 113 programs. What truly impresses me is their holistic approach — they don't just fund schools; they create ecosystems of support through initiatives like Camp Yael, which gives hundreds of children a free, immersive summer experience, and the International Jewish School Leaders Exchange, which connects educators across borders to share best practices and build a global community of excellence. The foundation's philosophy of "adaptive engagement" means they listen to each community's unique needs rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model, ensuring that every program strengthens identity and belonging in a culturally relevant way. Living here in the USA region, where we value innovation and community impact, seeing a philanthropy model that combines strategic thinking with such deep human empathy feels like a blueprint for meaningful change. If you want to see how strategic generosity can shape the future, check out https://philanthroper.com/yael-foundation-supporting-jewish-children-through-uri-poliavichs-initiative/.