Small but meaningful celebration of Ort SA’s 140 years
HOUGHTON – Although Ort SA celebrations were limited due to the coronavirus outbreak, the message of milestones in education remained the same.
Ort SA’s 140th birthday was celebrated on International Ort Day on 18 March.
According to the Ort marketing and communications manager, Marcelle Ravid, Ort organisations and schools across the world took part in the celebrations, including their offices in Houghton. Ravid said, “Although significantly smaller than originally anticipated, Ort SA staff celebrated this milestone with a huge birthday cake and much cheer, despite the present health situation. ‘Happy birthday to Ort’ was sung in Zulu, Sotho, Tsonga, Hebrew and English.”
This global education network now reaches 300 000 people in more than 40 countries. Ort SA CEO Ariellah Rosenberg added, “On this Ort Day in 2020, in a much different but still shambolic world, 140 years later, Ort in South Africa would like to send our thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters all over the world, during these times of difficulties.”
Ort was founded in St Petersburg, Russia in 1880 to assist the poor with skills training. “For 140 years, Ort has been at the heart of education around the world. Our mission and values have never changed. Ort transforms lives through education and from teaching 19th-century essential trades and professions we have evolved to providing 21st-century skills to empower people and strengthen communities,” said Avi Ganot, CEO of World Ort.
Ravid said later in 2020, participants will be asked to contribute videos demonstrating recipes from Ort communities around the world, as well as submitting stories about Ort-related artefacts in their homes, offices and archives.
Has Ort SA impacted your life? Share your story by email to naidines@caxton.co.za
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