Over 60 people attended this inaugural event on Sunday 21st August 2011, held outside
the MDA offices at White City.
While Reuben Bouskila busily cooked on the barbeque, babies crawled around on the lawn, others played games,
and parents mingled with friends old and new.
Much of this event's success was due to Ari Kuchar and Joseph Sofaer. They activated a Facebook page,
made contact with young people who had been to Israel on the MDA Volunteer Program and, thanks to the sponsorship by
First Street Home Loan Specialists, erected a series of large advertising billboards appeared around the Eastern Suburbs.
Joseph Sofaer and Michael Sacks inspired the gathering, explaining the amazing work MDA carries out in Israel and spoke
of their experiences in the Israel Volunteer Program and that opportunities exist for others to participate.
Special thanks go to South Head Synagogue for the use of their barbecue, to First Street Home Loan Specialists
and to Ari and Joseph for their hard work.
L-R: Joseph Sofaer, Arthur Shariev, Michael Sack, Ben Horowitz, David Igla
Natan and Lili Kuchar
Alon and Nicci Charif
Shlomo Shellim, Mark Steiner
Dov BenAvraham, Tessa Eskin
mda helps keep children safe
Over 50 young people have participated in basic first aid training over the last two months thanks
to a joint initiative by Young Magen David Adom and Shalom Baby. Participants were mostly parents
and grandparents of babies and young children.
The courses, conducted by professionals "Kids First Aid", cover the basics of how to respond to burns, choking, drowning, poisoning or trauma.
"They are scenarios we all prefer not to think about and hope never to have to use, but the reality is that anyone who cares for children needs
to be informed and armed with the facts", said Gail Eliovson, YMDA organizer.
Feedback from the participants has been very positive, with everyone learning a great deal and feeling better prepared to respond to an emergency.
Part of the course fee is generously donated to MDA.
