CLICK Society

About SAVI Project

SAVI Founders

"SAVI" is an anagram for Sara and Victor Fonda, who founded the SAVI project in Israel more than 30 years ago. Sara and Victor are prominent philanthropists in the Melbourne Jewish Community of Australia. On retiring, Sara, entered the world of social entrepreneurship. Her vast business skills provided her with the ability to direct her talents to the social sector and register SAVI in Israel in 1982 as a not-for-profit organization .

The major role of this Foundation in Israel was to provide raw and cut handicraft material to day care and residential centers for the aged, rehabilitation and crisis centers and the housebound elderly, on a national level in Israel. The Israeli branch operated in the city of Netanya; in recent years in two bomb shelters, provided by the local council. A retiree was employed to oversee the local operation, which became well known among not-for-profits and welfare organizations, serving over 800 centers. On the other side of the globe, in Australia, Sara created "Craft is Fun" in 1996, a not-for-profit center which aimed to enhance the quality of life through creative craft activities. The Australian headquarters was operated by a group of local dedicated volunteers, with Sara at the helm.

In March 2003, due to the threat of war with Iraq and the consequent demand by the local Netanya municipality to vacate the two bomb shelters, Sara was faced with the decision to close down the Israeli branch. She then opted to pass on the entire content of handicraft materials from the Netanya division, to the CLICK not-for-profit. CLICK's director Linda Mosek undertook to further continue the equivalent of the operation in the city of Hod Hasharon. In addition as of June 2003, due to personal reasons, Sara chose to close the head office in Australia, and transfer all its contents to CLICK'S director, including a cutting machine, and a large assortment of materials in consecutive consignments. The first of three shipments arrived in August 2003.

The SAVI Foundation now functions entirely in Israel. It is supported by the Fonda Family, Pratt Family Foundation of Australia, and the Ziv Tzedakah Fund in America.

CLICK's director pledged to maintain the name "SAVI Foundation" as the title of the project, and fulfil the founders' dream and vision in the land of Israel:- To promote the therapeutic benefits of crafting as a miracle "drug" to reduce stress, calm the mind and soul and improve academic learning for terror victims in rehabilitation, children in crisis intervention centers, elderly in day and residential centers, pre-school and school children, children in after school holiday programs, patients in hospitals, elderly in home based care, youth movements, intergenerational projects, special education schools and the general public.

General Aim - SAVI Social

To provide valued occupation in the community, for people of all ages who are predominantly elderly and disabled.

Primary Aims - SAVI Social

1. To develop programs which provide occupational opportunities for the aged and disabled in the community.
2. To develop programs which promote the therapeutic benefits of crafting as a miracle "drug" to reduce stress, thus calming the mind and soul.
3. To change the status and image of the elderly and disabled: from dependent, weak and vulnerable, to productive, capable, useful and to be a promoter of philanthropic development and economic growth in Israel.
4. To widen the sphere of involvement of volunteers in the project, to partake in community activities when achieving the primary aims.
5. To strengthen the links between local volunteers and with volunteer communities abroad.

Primary Aim - SAVI Business

To become a sustainable in-house industry, based on reinvestment of profits to cover expenses of the SAVI project and fund future community philanthropic causes.

Methods - SAVI Social

1. To develop a handicraft occupation project for the housebound elderly in their homes suited to their physical and mental abilities.
2. To provide occupation- creative retirement- for the aged and disabled in the handicraft manufacturing factory operated by SAVI.
3. To establish a learning and inspiration center with handicraft seminars, which promotes the therapeutic benefits of crafting for terror victims in rehabilitation, children in crisis intervention centers, elderly in day and residential centers, pre-school and school children, children in after school holiday programs, patients in hospitals, elderly in home based care, youth movements, intergenerational projects, special education schools and the general public.
4. To develop intergenerational projects that promotes the primary aims.
5. To attract International youth volunteers to work in the project.
6. To attract overseas not-for-profits to adopt the aims of the project.

Methods - SAVI Business

1. To establish and operate a handicraft manufacturing factory, cutting and packing handicraft raw material and kits to be sold to a craft distributor.
2. To find social investors to provide initial seed money in the start-up years of establishing the handicraft manufacturing factory.
3. To sell globally the handicraft educational kits.
4. To charge a minimal fee for handicraft seminars, which endorse the therapeutic benefits of crafting.
5. To sell handicraft kits and raw material at the SAVI outlet shop.