Education France Project #30594

Evian III "Vision 2020" Leadership Conference

by Sosua75 Inc

Evian III "Vision 2020" Leadership Conference

Project Report | Feb 21, 2019
2019 Evian III Student Educational Symposium Leadership Conference

By Elihu Baver | Board Chairman of Sosua75.org

Meeting at US Dominican Embassy in Santo Domingo

Dear Friends and Long-standing Evian Project Supporters,

It is amazing how quickly 3 months can fly by but here we are again!

First and foremost, please accept my heartfelt appreciation for your advocacy and the continuing financial contributions you have generously given towards the success of this project.

As a positive outcome stemming from the momentum of last summer’s successful “Revisiting Evian” event and based upon a suggestion from one of last year’s key note speakers, this year’s plan is to modify the program’s format by inviting college students from the same original 32 countries to attend and participate as “student diplomats” in the 2019 “Evian III” Student Educational Symposium Leadership Conference.

Through the guidance and instruction of globally recognized Educational curriculum developers and subject matter experts, we will engage and immerse these young adults in intensive educational sessions centering around the history and significance of the 1938 Evian Conference and its relevance to today’s contemporary issues of immigration and displaced refugees around the world.

Last year a momentous step was introduced, undertaken, and currently underway as a result of the 2018 event; the UNESCO submission for Sosua to become a World Heritage Site. Attaining this distinction will truly put the interconnected nature of both Evian France and the Dominican Republic “on the map” for their huge role in saving Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.

Although I’m working hard everyday to enlist new individual and global corporate sponsors to help defray the travel, lodging, and associated meal expenses at the Hotel Royale, your valued tax deductible contribution, in any amount you can afford, will truly make a huge difference in the overall quality of this year’s program.

Whether it be subsidizing the printing costs of the Evian III program or the Certificates of Achievement and participation which these students will take back to their global communities, or even to cover 1 dinner for one student on one evening, every $ dollar contributed will go directly towards making this year’s event as impactful and life changing as possible for these students.

Although still falling short of last year’s GG overall project goal, I’m committed to continuing this important work because I have seen firsthand the positive results of raising global awareness this event has produced.

Please consider making a sustaining donation to Sosua75 to keep the positive momentum of my work going or kindly feel free to contact me directly with any questions you may have. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Hugh Baver

603-502-7711

Article in DR newspaper on UNESCO World Heritage

Meeting US Dominican Ambassador Robin Bernstein

Introduction to Puerto Plata Mayor Walter Musa

Historic Plaque Ribbon cutting w/Evian Resort GM

With Shimon Samuels from Simon Wiesenthal Center

Links:

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Nov 21, 2018
11/9 Geneva UN Press Conf / HR Plaque Dedication

By Elihu "Hugh" Baver | Board Chairman Sosua75.org

Ribbon cutting ceremony with HR GM Laurent Roussin

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It’s that quarterly time of year again where I submit an updated GlobalGiving report on the progress I have made with this project within the last 3 months. I’m extremely pleased to inform all of you that our mission has been successful and sending this report in concert with the recent November 9th Kristallnacht 80th Anniversary in Geneva and in Evian & my personal favorite American holiday, Thanksgiving, is wonderful timing!

Surprisingly, my initial estimates back in December 2017 of the associated costs of manufacturing the historic bronze plaque & overall coordination of both this Summer’s July 11th “Evian Revisited” event and recently completed UN Press Conference, (followed immediately by the Evian Hotel Royal Plaque Dedication Ceremony), were, after post event(s) evaluation, very close to the actual #’s required to successfully complete it

Since being accepted into this GlobalGiving accelerator program, (over a roughly 10 month period), thanks to all of your graciousness and generosity, I have raised approximately $6300 towards my stated goal of $10,000. I was not going to let the $3700 shortfall derail the merits of those who embraced my dedicated vision and the ultimate success of this project so I covered the delta with my own personal funds. Having the opportunity to do this all over again I will not change a thing!

This entire Charitable fundraising process surprised me in many interesting ways as many individuals or globally based organizations I counted on as true longstanding friends and partners who had stated their intentions to help the cause went MIA, yet others, who I may have only recently met this past year, completely stepped up and surprised me with their generosity. Everyone knows who they are on either side of the spectrum ;)

Three outstanding organizations, led by the NH based Lantos Foundation, even contributed twice within the year and I could not be more thankful to them. Without their foundational generosity, and ALSO notably the management of the Hotel Royal in Evian, France, the likelihood of my writing you this positive successful report would not be possible.

So to EVERYONE else, truly any $ amount which has been given, no matter how small, has made a HUGE difference in the overall need to cover the expenses associated with seeing this project through. From the $36 donation which covered a monthly Sosua75 office electric bill to a $100 donation which paid for the printed programs/agenda in Evian, & so many other examples, NONE of your generosity and faith in my efforts will EVER be lost on me. The mosaic of giving which translated into truly “History Being Made” is a tribute to ALL of you and I hope you feel a part of it!

Now totaling over 6.5M worldwide, while some completely “out of touch” and insensitive world leaders illogically view immigrants and refugees as “invaders” or “threats” to civilized countries, just as 31 countries did in 1938 at the Evian Conference, then followed by “Kristallnacht” a mere 4 months later, leading to the terrible consequences of Hitler’s Final Solution and millions of innocent lives murdered, there is one unique factor which significantly differentiates what happened in Sosua/DR after the 1938 Evian Conference.

The subsequent successful Sosua settlement established in 1940 demonstrates the undeniable fact that Sosua is a role model of best practices where refugees seeking “safe haven” were not only “admitted” but “accepted”, then given a path to citizenship where they became active and productive members of society.

Particularly in light of the continuing unforeseen natural disasters and horrific incidents of escalating gun violence in the US, I do realize there are many worthy causes to contribute your hard earned year end tax deductible year donations towards. However, on this GivingTuesday please keep Sosua75 and our noble mission and objectives in mind to meet the 2017 stated goal of $10,000. We are very close and it would be a wonderful way to close out this successful project and 2018.

With my personal heartfelt thanks to ALL of you who have contributed to support and encourage me over the past year to make this project vision a reality, I wish all of you the happiest of Thanksgiving holidays!

Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out and contact me personally

Best,

Hugh Baver

Ready to reveal the Historic Commemorative Plaque

Plaque Unveil in same room where 1938 Conference

Plaque Unveiled before assembled group

UN Press Room where reporters Q's were answered

@UN w/SWC's Shimon Samuels & HR's Marc Figueiredo

Links:

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Aug 23, 2018
Post Evian Revisited Event Project Report

By Hugh Baver | Board Chairman Sosua75.org

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I'm very pleased to submit this report citing the huge success of last month's' Evian Conference 80th Anniversary gathering at the Hotel Royal in Evian, France. Over the course of the two day event, 20 established leaders from some of the world's most noted International Jewish & Human Rights organizations were in attendance to review the history and world events which led up to the Conference's diplomatic failure while outlining positive steps and ideas regarding how the events there in 1938 could be improved upon for future like events there next year and beyond. One of the best suggestions offered up by the distinguished key note speakers was to bring back next year high school students from the same 32 original countries who attended back in 1938 with the purpose of establishing a new dialogue on the topics of immigration & refugees which are front & center in today's news/media.

Other event highlights were having one of French President Emanuel Macron's staff surprisingly showed up at the Gala Dinner on July 11th to cite their support for the event in addition to my receiving the "Gold Key to the City" from the Mayor of Evian.

The bronze historic plaque was dedicated with plans to now proceed with its forging and come back in October to affix it to the Hotel Royal wall in the same room where the original 1938 & then last month's event was convened.

Here's a link to all the key note speeches and presentations from last month's event:

https://sosua75.org/evian/

Although I have yet to achieve the $10K goal I originally set forth to cover all the associated expenses for the event, I would still welcome your continuing support, no matter how small, to defray the final expenses to fly back to France for the actual plaque installation in October

With Deepest Appreciation for all your advocacy and the success of this gathering which never would have occurred without your interest in these historic topics and supporting me & this vision

Hugh Baver

Links:

Article cited to make Sosua, DR a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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