British youngsters to benefit from new £700,000 innovation fund

Jewish youngsters from the UK are among the beneficiaries of a new $1 million (£700,000) ‘innovation incubator’.

The announcement came during the Olami Summit 2017 taking place this week, with 1,300 young delegates gathering from Jewish communities far and wide, including North and South America, France and South Africa.

The charity said the fund would “stimulate Jewish growth, learning and awareness around the world” and invited participants to pitch for projects.

The fund is designed to help finance grassroots initiatives and build on the Olami Foundation’s financing of 60 projects, with an investment of up to $50,000  (£37,000) each. More than 40 projects were pitched throughout the weekend, six of which got the board’s nod to pilot their ideas.

Among those who were successful was Menora from Argentina, whose Kosher Food Truck will visit universities and workplaces at lunchtime “in order for Jews to be able to access kosher food during the week at a low cost”.

Another funding winner was Israel’s Nefesh Yehudi, whose Ushpizin project is based on a hospitality app that will enable Jews visiting Israel from across the world to stay at Jewish households, “maintaining the sense of community and belonging for Jews no matter where they are from”.

Almost 100 British delegates attended from Aish UK, Essex member Sacha Johnstone being chosen to act as one of 12 regional ambassadors of Olami, a charity that operates in 19 countries.