A Message from NATAN’s CEO at Year-End
“Proud and excited to return to the place where I started my journey in the humanitarian world”
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.
A message from NATAN’s CEO at year-end
Port-au-Prince, Haiti 2010: Naama during NATAN’s relief operation following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
In recent years we have witnessed challenging global phenomena that require immediate and major action, new ways of thinking and the creation of new opportunities to change reality.
Alongside a significant increase in the world's population, a tremendous and meteoric development of advanced technology, freedom and democracy movements working toward reconciliation and global initiatives and collaborations to improve the quality of life of all the world's citizens, as the year 2022 comes to an end, we are also witnessing a reality in which an international epidemic continues to claim human lives and drastic weather changes lead to catastrophes. Around the world, violence is rising in the name of religion, nationality or historical justice, leading to bloody wars even in the heart of Europe in the middle of the 21st century.
3-March-2022: Naama, 2nd from right, departs for Poland with the first team of volunteers in NATAN’s Ukrainian Refugee Operation.
All of these and more lead to the heavy price paid by humanity: an ever-expanding refugee phenomenon in the world with millions of people seeking shelter and a new life, severe poverty and hunger of millions of children around the world and the unnecessary death of human beings. This dire global reality calls for everyone in the world to stand up and take responsibility. Environmental and social moral responsibility requires each and every one of us to do something for the sake of all humanity.
This year, through those phenomena, it was possible to see most clearly the meeting point between the world of aid that deals with disasters and the world of development that seeks long-term answers to the world's ills. The year 2022 testified to a reality in which the consequences of catastrophes (natural or human-made), are not only the immediate need to save lives and respond to emergencies, but the need to provide long-term answers to acute, urgent, ongoing and complex needs that encompass many fields and communities around the world. It seems that with all the good that exists, the world is in a constant state of emergency, and all of humanity needs to take action.
Dudhauli, Nepal 2016: Naama (far right) leads a psychosocial training session for community health workers and volunteers
NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief has been operating in the emergency arena for eighteen years as one of the leading Israeli organizations in the field. The organization concludes the year 2022 with significant and impressive action in response to emergency events, in the development of community restoration projects, in the recruitment of hundreds of new volunteers - professionals in the fields of psychosocial therapy and medicine, in establishing relationships with international organizations, in the impressive work of a leading and dedicated Board, and in strategic organizational development. This is how NATAN is preparing itself for a professional work plan for the coming years that will manifest its commitment to action and to the changing global needs in the field of emergency and rehabilitation in order to continue to take a significant part in making this world a better place.
I am proud and excited to return to the place where I started my journey in the humanitarian world as a volunteer, the place where my dream of doing good became a reality. I thank my colleagues for their trust, partnership, dedication and commitment to the journey. I am glad to be among you.
September 2022: Naama (front row, 2nd from right) with headquarters staff at NATAN’s Annual Meeting
I would like to thank the headquarters staff, the professional forum, the Board of Directors, the Advisory Board, our partners, supporters and all the volunteers who faithfully make the journey with us. We are who we are thanks to you. You are invited to become NATAN’s ambassadors to spread the unique message of NATAN’s mission and spirit as we continue to fulfill the humanitarian, peace-loving legacy of the late Abie Nathan.
Naama at the Ukraine-Poland border during NATAN’s Ukrainian Refugee Relief Operation, March 2022
“As long as there is hunger, poverty and treatable disease in the world there is work for us to do. As long as nations fight, and men hate, and corruption stalks the corridors of power; as long as there is unemployment and homelessness, depression and despair, our task is not yet done, and we hear, if we listen carefully enough, the voice of God asking us, as he asked the first humans, ‘Where are you?’ ” ― Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, “To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility”
May the year 2023 bring much good to the world and may we continue to respond to humanity’s call of commitment to the world.