What Refael Edry’s Fundraising Initiative in Israel Teaches Every Business Leader

There was a time of apprehension and uncertainty when the COVID-19 pandemic started. To safeguard their citizens from the novel coronavirus, numerous nations imposed stringent quarantine and social isolation rules. Israeli government officials did likewise.

The good news is that technology is advancing quickly in our day. It implied that even though we withdrew inside, we could still maintain some semblance of normalcy. Schools and colleges started implementing online classes as businesses shifted to remote work.

Refael Edry’s Fundraising Initiative: A Closer Look

Children in Israel’s developed socioeconomic center enjoyed a seamless transition to the new way of learning. But it was as straightforward for children in the country’s periphery, where access to basic resources is a daily struggle.

The Israeli government and school authorities didn’t realize that nearly 400,000 students from impoverished backgrounds didn’t have access to personal computers. Additionally, their residence lacked a broadband internet connection. That meant they would have to give up on their dreams of a brighter future and would have no means to take online programs.

That’s when Refael (aka Rafi) Edry, an accomplished Israeli businessman, and his younger brothers, Eyal Edry and Moshe Edree, stepped into the picture. They started a fundraising effort and asked the community and local businesses for contributions.

The project helped more than 30,000 students get computers and gave them back faith in their fellow citizens. In spite of how dangerous the pandemic was, these kids felt safe because they could take online classes and meet their friends virtually.

Refael Edry’s quick action not only helped thousands of students, but it also has lessons for business leaders of today. His actions show what you should be like if you want to inspire your employees and help your business grow.

Taking Charge

When Israel made rules about online schooling, Refael Edry and his brothers went to the government to ask for help. But they quickly saw that going through the bureaucratic system would take too long.

Instead of waiting for the government to do something, they did it themselves. Because they thought ahead, students got computers at the right time. If these kids had waited for help from the government, they would have missed at least a few classes. Also, even if they had personal computers, it would have been hard for them to catch up.

In the same way, if you’re in charge of a business, you need to take charge of every bad situation. You have to be willing to take risks and plan for a variety of outcomes. Whether you’re putting out a new product or starting a marketing campaign, you need to move quickly. Don’t let a lack of funding from venture capitalists or other resources stop you from reaching your goals. More of Refael Edry’s business advice can be found on Bitrebels.

Keeping an eye on the bigger picture

Philanthropist Refael Edry knew that taking away young children’s right to go to school would hurt them in the long run. These kids would grow up thinking that their government and other people left them alone during one of the worst times in human history.

They would grow up to be a generation of angry and resentful kids who didn’t believe in their country. Then, Israel’s social structure would be in danger, and years of progress would be lost.

Refael Edry and his brothers saw these problems coming and took the steps they needed to avoid bad things happening. In the same way, it’s important for business leaders to think about how their actions and decisions will affect the business in the long run.

Don’t make a choice until you know everything that could happen as a result. When making new features for your product, think about how each one will affect the customer experience and their loyalty. When hiring an employee, you should also look beyond their job description to see how they can help your company grow as a whole.

Keeping in touch with your roots

Refael Edry can live in comfort because he is a good businessman. But because of how he was raised, he steps out of his comfort zone every day. As a teenager, he went through hard times with money, so he knows what it’s like to be without.

That’s what made him start the campaigns to raise money. This is also what drives him to help people through his non-profit group, the Ahinoam Association for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities.

He also remembers what his brave uncle gave up for him (whose name he shares). The uncle, Refael Edry z”l, was a brave soldier who died fighting for Israel’s freedom at the young age of 24.

Rafi Edry, the nephew, always thinks about his own childhood and the heroism of his uncle to remind himself where he comes from. In turn, this has helped him stay kind and humble (both essential qualities for business leaders).

Make sure you never forget where you came from, even as you start a new business or grow an old one. Remember what made you want to start your own business in the first place.

It will help you get through hard times and encourage your workers to do their best. Also, it will make sure you never settle and keep pushing yourself.

One Last Thing

Refael Edry’s campaign to raise money for Israel’s students is an important step that will shape the future of the country. His willingness to look ahead and take action should be a model for every entrepreneur. Don’t wait for things to happen if you want to build a business that does well. Instead, you should take charge of hard situations and think about your original goals and vision.