ORT JUMP International Careers Challenge

29.07.24

10 UK students flew to Italy this July, to team up with teens from across the World ORT global network for the ORT JUMP International Careers Challenge.

They took on the task with participants from World ORT Kadima Mada’s Kfar Silver Youth Village in Israel, The Collegio Hatikva school in Barcelona and King David School in Johannesburg.

The aim of the challenge was to help the students develop key employability skills such as collaboration, research, project management, entrepreneurship, time-management, creative thinking and pitching. These skills are not taught as part of the school curriculum, yet are increasingly important in the workplace, across a wide range of industries.

Guided by industry experts, the students worked in five mixed teams, drawing on their diverse backgrounds and perspectives to develop a scalable urban agriculture project. Their design had to increase and maintain fresh food supplies that could be integrated into a city, using innovative techniques and digital technology, promoting environmental sustainability and fostering community involvement.

Participants drew inspiration from the history and culture in Rome and Milan, following trips to the Milan Innovation District, the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum, the Colosseum and Pantheon, plus Milan’s Shoah memorial, Rome’s Jewish quarter and the ORT Milan school.

The teams worked around the clock to design their projects which they presented to a judging panel at the end of the week.

Beth Kulawy, ORT UK’s Community Fundraising & Engagement Officer said: “The participants quickly developed close bonds and working relationships with their peers, which was truly incredible to witness. Even individuals who struggled at first, soon blossomed to become key members of the team. Each student displayed huge growth, developing transferable working skills needed within the modern world of work. They came away from the programme feeling confident and empowered in what they can bring to their future career path.”

The panel selected two winning teams:

Winner for Innovation In Johannesburg there are major food shortages and malnutrition in poor communities leading to a healthy food crisis. Team Three opted for hydroponic container farming, which can be used to create a sustainable source of healthy food. It is fast, water efficient, space-saving and doesn’t require soil.

Winner for Social Action – In Alexandra there is poverty and rising crime. Team Four elected to train the population to grow fruits and vegetables to eat and sell, enabling self-sufficiency. They also planned to build a community garden to improve their sense of community.

“Their projects were thoroughly researched and clearly and creatively presented, whilst the thinking involved was at a significantly high level,” explains Beth. “Each pitch considered important elements such as location, crop selection and management, resource management, community engagement, technology integration, sustainability and impact as well as accessibility and inclusivity. Participants were able to learn from individuals with different cultural experiences from across the network, promoting a robust and innovative, collaborative workspace, producing incredible results.”

ORT UK Chair, Annette Kurer, who was one of the judges said, “I was so impressed with the incredibly innovative, engaging, and thought-provoking presentations. The students developed a vast range of employability skills which will enhance their ability to engage and promote themselves as they progress their careers. ORT UK bridges the gap between school and the workplace, and we will work across the ORT global network to implement their wonderful ideas for greater sustainability, resource management and community engagement.”

UK participant Miriam Freeman told us: “I had a brilliant time and have learned so much about myself and my capabilities. I was listened to and felt heard (which is definitely not something I felt when I was at school). I gained so much and can’t wait to see what the future brings. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

While Dylan Lack, also from the UK, said: “It was a magical trip! We’ve learned transferable skills that can be used in any workplace, which you don’t learn in school, so it’s a completely unique and rare experience. I’ve made new friends and seen Rome and Milan from a completely new cultural and historical perspective. This trip has opened my eyes to a whole range of diversity and culture and I’ve appreciated meeting people from all over the world.”

To find out more about our ORT JUMP Programmes, please visit ORT JUMP | ORT UK or email jump@ortuk.org.