Tikun Olam (For Jews, the phrase tikkun olam means that Jews are responsible for, not only creating a model society among themselves, but also the welfare of society at large. JCC and our Cuban Jewish partners take this mandate very seriously. In a country with a Jewish population of about 1,500 among a population of about 12 million, the need to reach beyond our own is extremely important. Two projects underscore who we are and what we can do:

• Wheelchair Connection Cuba: JCC, in cooperation with The Wheelchair Foundation (www.wheelchairfoundation.org) since 2003 has distributed over 1800 wheelchairs in Cuba with no cost to recipients.
• Tikum Olam Cuba: Tikum Olam Cuba is a collaborative project in the planning stages that, subject to approval, would seek to improve the lives of members of the general Cuban society by providing them with educational and recreational opportunities. With the support of Tikum Olam Cuba, Community Centers would conduct: workshops for children; basic courses for seniors in areas including sewing; general courses in English and computer skills; and conferences, cultural activities and events. Please check this website for a status update on this project.