Sita’s Story: Building Strength from Sorrow -NATAN Supports Independence and Self-Determination

HariharpurGadhi Rural Municipality, Nepal: NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief resilience program helps a woman fight domestic violence, find independence and rebuild her life.

Arielle Kaim is a PhD candidate studying Emergency and Disaster Management at Tel Aviv University. This month she volunteered at NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief’s medical and dental clinics for evacuees and survivors of the Oct 7.

Doc Tales Podcast: Oct 7, 2023 - Long-time NATAN active volunteer and member of NATAN’s governing board, Dr. Michael Alkan, speaks with his son, Yoni Alkan, about the events of October 7th and about his work treating the survivors at NATAN’s medical clinics for evacuees. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Alkan tell the story in his own words. The full transcript of the podcast is below.

Dikla Agur, MD, is a family doctor who volunteered at NATAN WorldwideDisaster Relief’s medical clinic at the Dead Sea to serve evacuees and survivors of the Oct. 7th HAMAS attack in southern Israel.

Marvin Waldman has been an active member of NATAN’s Advisory Board for several years. Here is his personal story.

NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief long-time volunteer, Dr. Michael (Mick) Alkan led NATAN’s first relief team to Morocco following the massive earthquake which struck Sept. 9, 2023.

Alone in the world. Confined to a wheelchair. Abandoned at railway station 670 km from home in wartime… Hear about Tatiana’s journey from Svetlana, one of the NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief team members who helped her along the way.

Dr. Avery Hart and Dr. David Shapiro joined NATAN’s Ukrainian Refugee Relief Operation in Poland as clinical physicians to provide medical care to displaced Ukrainians. Working in close coordination with different NGOs and humanitarian aid organizations, the displaced people were provided with the necessities they needed. The medical staff's quiet conversations with the displaced individuals had a calming effect, creating a sense of normality for them. The activity center for children provided an opportunity for mothers to discuss their family's life crisis with social workers, helping them think more clearly. Dr. Hart found it immensely gratifying to witness the resource and knowledge sharing and see different medical relief agencies working hand in hand.

Alan Silberstein, the Chair of NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief American Advisory Board , visited Poland and Ukraine, in a twin mission to follow his roots and learn about NATAN’s humanitarian operations on the ground. Alan took a day to go to Ukraine alongside Marcin Piotrowski, the founder and leader of NATAN ‘s partner organization Folkowisko.

Einav Levy is an experienced Israeli aid worker who managed projects related to emergencies and community well-being for over 20 years. He provided trauma care to survivors of an earthquake in Turkey in 2023, overseeing psychosocial interventions for affected individuals. Einav emphasizes the importance of making mental health interventions an integral part of every mission, and worked with various groups of people to empower them and help them regain a sense of self-efficacy. He finds fulfillment in giving through his humanitarian work

Today is International Women’s Day – a day dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements and advancing the empowerment of women everywhere. NATAN celebrates women’s achievements every day, through the amazing work done by our volunteers: professionals in the fields of medical and psychosocial relief and rehabilitation.

It was very empowering. It made them feel in control and gave them the opportunity to contribute, rather than feeling like a survivor and just following their parent’ decisions. It was heartwarming.

A story of survival and reconstruction: Case study from one of NATAN’s Mobile Dental Clinics in Israel, serving the most vulnerable population of uninsured, at risk patients. Many of these patients are refugees and asylum seekers.

In 2022, Naama Shilo was appointed CEO of NATAN. This has brought Naama’s journey full circle as she rejoined NATAN, where she began her humanitarian work as a volunteer many years ago. Here is Naama’s message at the close of NATAN’s momentous and intensive year.

I know now that great evil and hate also bring endless kindness and love with them. I witnessed it myself, and I will never forget people who came from all over the world to help and to give.

“Sometimes, there can be a case and you don’t really know the answers and you are the one providing the solutions . . . Knowing that anything you do is changing the world for somebody is the biggest reward of all. It is just so easy for us and so meaningful for them. I came away so appreciative of what I have.”

“Volunteering with NATAN was one of the greatest experiences of my life.” Interview with Dr Marcelo Dratcu – NATAN volunteer doctor from Brazil, who served in the Ukrainian Refugee Relief Operation in Poland in August 2022.

“Making a difference in someone’s life goes beyond the language barrier. It is about paying close attention to the children’s needs and finding what it is they really require to forget their worries and just be children again,” according to Marina Mann who served as a camp counselor at the summer camp for Ukrainian and Polish youth run jointly by NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief and Folkowisko Foundation.