Yotam Polizer, CEO IsraAID
"Her father told me, 'Today, my worst enemy has become my biggest supporter. And the people supposed to be protecting me back home in Syria, are chasing me away.' For me, it was the first time I realized what an opportunity we have, through this terrible and still ongoing tragedy in Syria, to not only save lives and provide immediate support, but to actually build bridges and change people's perspectives. "
I'M THAT · Sylvan Adams, Red cross, Israaid, Medical, Danna Harman
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Show Notes
Yotam Polizer is the CEO of IsraAID – Israel’s biggest humanitarian NGO – and leads more than 250 people that support those affected by humanitarian crisises – they partner with local communities around the world to provide urgent aid, assist in recovery, and reduce the risk of future disasters.
Right now, IsraAID is active in 15 countries supporting communities affected by Covid 19.
Following the August 2021 Afghanistan crisis, Yotam led a rescue operation to save the lives of 167 at-risk Afghans from the hands of the Taliban. In September 2015 refugee crisis in Europe, he led IsraAID’s humanitarian mission in Lesbos, Greece, to support Syrian refugees on the island and also established IsraAID Germany, which provides long-term support for Yazidi and Syrian refugees in Germany.
Over the last 15 years, Yotam has also built and led programs in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, and in South Korea to support the reintegration of North Korean defectors. He has also led missions in Nepal following the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and in Sierra Leone for Ebola survivors, health workers, and affected communities. He has 15 years of experience in education, humanitarian aid, and international development.
Prior to his work at IsraAID, Yotam worked in the Israeli Embassy in Nepal and was the program coordinator for Tevel Btzedek an Israeli NGO focused on long-term development programs in the Himalayas.
Yotam is married to Mayo and is the father of beautiful twins - Nao and Taiyo. He is also fluent in Japanese, Nepalese, English, and Hebrew. Yotam graduated from Tel Aviv University where he studied International Relations & African studies.