Tourism Against Trauma - April Update

Friends and Family,

It's been a bit over a month since my last note, and we wanted to give you an update on our progress. However, before I do, I wanted to share some exciting news that Ami's son was born today.  Please join me in welcoming Ron Aviv Korda to our tribe! I've been waiting to send this email until he was born, and Ron Aviv decided to wait until almost 42 weeks to come (and then was in such a rush that he was delivered in the car on the way to the hospital).  Now that he's finally here, an enormous Mazal Tov to Ami!

Charity Status:

As mentioned last month, we have the partner charity up and running, and we have now raised $62,000 from roughly 30 donors. Ami and I are so deeply grateful for your trust and generosity.  We are really excited about the impact we will have with your support. For those interested in donating still, please ping me, and I'll shoot across instructions.

Mission Update:

Now that we're a few months into the program, one thing has become clear for us. What we are able to provide in this moment is community.  When the war broke out, the entire country came together, and though it was a moment of immense loss and fear, there was also a profound strength in being united.  Nearly six months into the war, as progress has dragged on with hostages stuck suffering in Gaza, Hamas leadership still at large, and families still displaced from their homes / routines, morale is unfortunately a lot lower.  In the ten trips we've now organized, what's stood out is how by bringing groups together to enjoy the natural beauty of Israel, we are either creating or strengthening the connections among participants. These groups are supporting one another in deep ways as spaces to talk about what they're facing as well as light ways by simply having fun together.  As such, going forward, our plans are to focus on turning the group participants into and/or strengthening an ongoing community. 

Recent Trips:

As mentioned in my last note, we had two trips setup for this month:

· Kissufim ride number 3: Ami and the crew rode near their hotel in the desert.  Given the summer is arriving, this is likely the last ride with them for some time.  Our hope is that as the residents of Kissufim are beginning to move out of their hotels into more permanent housing, they'll continue to be connected. I've attached a few photos from the trip and the gorgeous scenery. It's easy to forget amidst all the news how simply stunning Israel is!

· Biking, Acupuncture, and Beer for Platoons 3 and 4 of Nahal Unit 8111:  Like we've done with Platoons 1 and 2, Ami led a bike trip followed by acupuncture and barbeque with two other platoons from the same Nahal unit.  Platoon 3, tragically, lost its officer early on in the war and had another soldier injured, and Platoon 4 was responsible for evacuating injured soldiers. So this group had a lot to process and was more somber, but the trip felt like an important one as it reconnected them, allowing them to check in on one another.  Here's a short video that Ami took with them on the trip thanking you all for the opportunity to be together. 

Next Up:

· Launch of new youth program: Given our focus on community, we are going to create a four trip program for groups of kids from various Kibbutzim. The program will take place over a 4-6 week time frame, culminating in an overnight camping trip.   Our plan is to do this with 2-3 groups, kicking off at the end of May through July. We are in touch with a government program called Matnasim to sponsor a portion of these activities, which would be an exciting validation of our progress.

· Youth group trip from the south to the north: Ami has been in touch with two youth groups for kids that struggled in the formal school system in Israel and so were put into an alternative program - one in the far North and one in the South near Gaza - both of which are currently displaced by the war.  We are going to sponsor a trip for those from the South to camp and barbeque up with the group in the North at their temporary kibbutz.  I'm really excited for this event to allow the kids to share their different but similar experiences and develop connections among them.

Israel Content: Given the craziness in the world right now, some folks have asked me for any content that I've found really insightful to explain the Israeli perspective undistorted by the US media.  A few weeks ago, I watched this interview with the editor of the Times of Israel, and though it's long, I found it remarkable and inspiring. 

Thank you again for your love and support.

Am Yisrael Chai,

Dave and Ami