Eva’s Project for the Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award: Recycling Talks

The Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award for Social Responsibility, recognises students who have distinguished themselves in their conduct towards others.

It acknowledges excellence in projects which help the needy, display voluntary contributions to society and a commitment to fostering the values of compassion and dignity.

The Harmatz Awards highlight the positivity of social action and responsibility across the ORT network, bringing together so many of the values we believe in: Tikkun Olam, teamwork, a sense of belonging, forward-thinking attitudes and problem-solving skills.

"When I began designing the project in Veracruz for the Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award, my main motivation was the desire to create a meaningful and accessible learning space for children in rural communities. I chose to focus on recycling and environmental care because I firmly believe that early education can transform lives—especially when it is adapted to local resources.

That’s why I taught the children how to recycle using color-coded and symbol-marked waste bins, which I later donated to the school.

The most valuable part was seeing how enthusiastically the children got involved, laughing while they learned. Many of them told me they had never sorted materials before and didn’t know why it was important.

I learned that small actions, when done with empathy and creativity, can have a big impact.

This project not only taught me about teamwork, logistics, and adaptability, but also about the power of education. I would love to continue replicating this initiative in other communities."

-Eva Sclabi