How many volunteers and employees are there at Latet?

Latet employs 45 full- and part-time employees, and relies on the assistance of over 13,000 volunteers.   

What are Latet's basic guidelines?

Latet actively works to reduce poverty for the sake of better and more just society in Israel. With a unique approach we develop and implement innovative, effective and sustainable poverty-reduction programs.

Latet aims to help needy populations, while maintaining the principles of equality and universality. Help is granted to whoever needs it, anywhere around the country, regardless of religion, race, gender, age or nationality. 

The organization aims to mobilize citizens into action and to instill values of volunteerism and giving in the younger generation and all individuals within society. We strive toward efficiency and professionalism, promoting an ideology rather than individuals. 

Full transparency serves as a beacon to Latet's activities, as we consider it our moral duty to give each member of Israeli society a full report on the nature and manner in which we operate. All financial issues relating to the Organization, including employee payroll and overhead, are accessible to all through our website. The same is true for the various activities and projects in which we are involved .Finally, we believe that in order to generate true/meaningful change, we too must be open to change/evolution/progress/transformation, must be daring and innovative.

Who stands behind Latet?

Latet is first and foremost supported by the citizens of the State of Israel.  Latet is an independent organization, not affiliated with the government or any particular party.  All activities are performed and supported by citizens, volunteers and the private sector.  

Latet was established in 1996 by Gilles Darmon, who emigrated from France with the objective of establishing a humanitarian organization that would change for the better the core of the Israeli society. Darmon currently heads the Board of Directors, which operates on a voluntary basis and establishes the organization's policy and strategy.

What are Latet's objectives?

Latet was established in order to reduce poverty, for the sake of creating a just and better society.

Latet does so by

1.   Providing assistance to needy populations on a universal basis

2.   Mobilizing the civil society towards acts of giving kindness and mutual responsibility

3.   Leading change in the national priorities.

Why does the Organization distribute food products? Isn’t it better to invest in providing “fishing rods” over the “fish”?

Israeli society is currently in a state of emergency in which thousands of families are forced, daily, to deal with a shortage of food and the inability to provide themselves and their children with ample nutrition.  Latet has decided to help families that live in such terrible need in order to offer it relief wherever possible.  

At the same time, Latet also actively developes and implemets poverty-reduction programs - suchas the "Latet Youth" organization and the "Latet Atid" program. 

The phenomenon of poverty is so deep and broad, that we have no choice but to invest both in physical support (“fish” – food) and in long term infrastructures (“fishing rods”).

Isn’t the government responsible for caring for its needy citizens. Don’t the services provided by Latet remove responsibility from the government?

At Latet, we believe that, regardless of the role and functions of the government, we, as citizens have a responsibility and duty to act for those of our society who face true hardships. There is no doubt that when governmental institutions fail to operate properly, the role of the civilian society is enlarged.  Even if someone believes that ensuring the absence of poverty is the sole responsibility of the government, he still faces a choice of standing by, criticizing the government and claiming that it is its responsibility, or helping out, in accordance with his perspective and capabilities. We have decided to help and take action for these people living in poverty.  

At the same time, we work to change the national priorities with our advocacy activates in the fields of our work.

Why does Latet employ salaried employees and why doesn’t it base its activities on volunteers only?

Latet employs a team of 45 full and part time  employees, while enjoying the services of over 13,000 volunteers operating nationwide.  In order to conduct intense and professional activities that will enable ongoing assistance to thousands of families in distress, Latet requires professional and permanent employees.  The salaried employees include professionals who manage the extensive activities conducted in Israel and around the world.  The professional staff works very long hours and, when necessary, during weekends and holidays. 

Why doesn’t Latet distribute food directly to the needy and why does it operate through partner Non Profit Organizations?

Latet is working to promote transparency and effectiveness in the field of nutrition security, as part of that vision Latet is instilling those values in local NGO's nationwide. Furthermore, Latet believes that working with local NGO's promotes better usage of resources while insuring that the support will reach those who truly needs it.

As mentioned above, there are currently hundreds of local NGO’s in Israel that offer various scopes of assistance with food for needy families.  The true problem does not lie in the absence of food distributions centers but in the quantity of food for distribution.  Latet has therefore decided that the best way to offer relieve would be by dedicating most of the resources to the collection of as much food as possible.  The food that we collect is distributed to the needy families through 150 local organizations that operate together with us.