By, Sandy Rashty
1 min read
BySandy Rashty, Sandy Rashty
As the only male guest in a room of more than 80 women, Adam Overlander-Kaye was struggling to get a word in edgeways.
The new Ort UK chief executive joined shoe browsers and buyers at the Jimmy Choo shoe store in Sloane Street at an event designed to raise awareness of the educational charity's work in 30 countries. The added incentive was the chance to take advantage of up to 50 per cent discounts on shoes and bags.
Mr Overlander-Kaye told guests that the charity's mentoring programme, Jump - partnering year-12 students with professionals in prospective career fields - now operates at eight Jewish schools. It had "recently expanded" to include four non-Jewish schools in Camden, he added.
"We want to provide the best opportunity for young people to thrive in the complexity of today's workplace," Mr Overlander-Kaye said, before going on to talk about international Ort projects from India to Kyrgyzstan, which borders China, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan .
"It's amazing to think that there is active Jewish life there [Kyrgyzstan]. We support the 82 students and 23 teachers at the Pri Etz Chaim School, providing technology education, robotics and entrepreneurship.
"This is just one of 17 schools we support across the former Soviet Union, work that is vitally important for these communities."
The event was co-ordinated by Jimmy Choo store manager Phillippa McConnell and Anthea Jackson, Ort UK's business development and community outreach manager.
Mrs Jackson spoke about Ort's Professional Women's Network, which is set to launch next month. More than £2,000 was raised on the night.