Join us over Zoom to learn from our distinguished panelists about their experiences working in international development and why we, as Jews, should care about and assist developing nations. Our panelists include Yael Shapira, Director of Network Engagement and Programs at Olam and Annie Vainrub, International Director of Education for CADENA Foundation. Estee Katcoff, who has worked more than five years in Paraguay with the Peace Corps and the Superkids Foundation, will serve as panelist/moderator and discuss “Jewish Peace Corps” and her establishment of the Superkids Foundation to address the needs of underserved Paraguayan children. Estee is the 2021 recipient of the Kate Raftery Emerging Leadership Award given by the Women of Peace Corps Legacy. Learn more about our speakers below.

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Meeting ID: 924 897 9279, Passcode: 540

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YAEL SHAPIRA
Yael is from Jerusalem and is currently based in Washington, DC. She works at OLAM as Director of Network Engagement and Programs, where she manages a network of 60+ Jewish and Israeli international development and humanitarian organizations to promote collaboration and share best practices in the field. She has worked to support international development programs through a variety of NGOs, with a focus on providing access to education for marginalized populations. She has lived in Niger, India, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Switzerland, in addition to working and traveling in other countries. Prior to OLAM, Yael planned Learning Tours for European Parliamentarians at CARE.

Yael has a BA in International Relations from Boston University and an MA in International Education and Development from the George Washington University.

ANNIE VAINRUB
With a Bachelor in Education, a Masters in Curriculum Design and Educational Technology, and a Fellowship in Experiential Jewish Education, Annie has designed educational programs oriented to different communities, cultures, and ages. She founded a Hebrew school and has also led professional development courses at the university level addressed to school personnel that train staff on the best practices in early childhood education and emerging trends in the educational field. She founded a consulting company to guide different communities in the creation of Jewish education programs outside school as an outlet to practice religion in a fun and educational manner. She was a University Professor in Caracas, Venezuela, and taught college students the “Peace Education and Conflict Resolution” course.

Annie Vainrub now works as the International Director of Education for CADENA Foundation. She is dedicated to educating and inspiring children to understand CADENA’S mission and to be able to help people and their communities to become resilient and be prepared in case of a humanitarian crisis. Her educational programs include the Re-Generation program, a program that aims to educate students on how to become better human beings, and the CADENA Initiative, a contest between middle school students on the best idea to protect people in vulnerable communities that are facing a humanitarian crisis.

ESTEE KATCOFF
Following her graduation from University of Pennsylvania, Estee served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay from 2011 to 2014.  During her service, Estee became aware of gender-based violence and developed initiatives to combat it both during her service and afterwards. She founded a girls' empowerment club and extended for a third year to continue her work, which included working with the Children's Rights Council of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. While earning an MBA at the University of Washington, Estee created a pilot program for Paraguayan children addressing GBV, Zero Violencia. Zero Violencia laid the ground for the Superkids Foundation (Superninos Foundation), whose mission is to mobilize children as agents of change in their communities.  Its flagship Kid Teachers program enlists children in  grades 5 through 8 to participate in an inspiring summer training at the local teacher's college, becoming experts in literacy. They then take the skills they learned in the training and spend six hours per week tutoring in schools with high illiteracy rates. Undaunted by the pandemic, the Superkids Foundation launched Mita’i, the very first show made for Paraguayan kids by Paraguayan kids, and the  first bilingual children’s television show in Paraguay. The Superkids Foundation has reached thousands of Paraguayan children, promoting literacy and leadership skills.