Yael Poliavich is a philanthropist and co-founder of the Yael Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting high-quality, identity-centered education for Jewish children around the world. Through its work, the foundation has already supported more than 22,500 children in 45 countries.
The Yael Foundation supports more than 143 local formal and informal educational programs, helping to make education more accessible to children in various communities. At the same time, the organisation’s work is focused not only on educational support but also on strengthening a sense of cultural identity and belonging to the international Jewish community.
Yael Poliavich places significant emphasis on the development of quality education focused on values and cultural identity. In her work, she focuses on long-term goals, process development, and supporting educational initiatives in various communities.
Background and Early Years
Yael Poliavich was born in 1982 in Kyrgyzstan. Her mother, who worked as a music teacher at the M. Abdraev Republican Specialized Music Boarding School in Bishkek.
In her family, education was viewed as a vital part of personal development and responsibility. For Yael’s mother, teaching was not merely a profession but a calling that demanded dedication and high standards. This approach helped her realize at an early age the importance of education and its impact on people’s lives and the development of communities. The environment in which she grew up later influenced her interest in philanthropy and educational projects.
Education and Professional Development
Yael Poliavich graduated from the Zh. Abdrakhmanov Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, where she majored in “Economics, Finance, and Credit.” During her studies, she gained expertise in financial planning, public administration, and organisational processes.
After completing her studies, Yael Poliavich worked in the financial sector for many years. Her professional activities focused on operational management, financial planning, and business process coordination. Over time, she took on broader operational responsibilities.
Working in various managerial and financial roles helped her develop skills in strategic planning, budgeting, administrative coordination, and decision-making. Her professional experience gave her an understanding of how organisations function and how stable, long-term structures are formed.
Establishment of the Yael Foundation
In 2020, Yael Poliavich and her husband, Uri Poliavich, founded the Yael Foundation, a charitable organisation. The foundation’s primary focus is supporting high-quality, identity-centered education for Jewish children.
For many communities, the need for modern, high-quality, and accessible education remains a key challenge. Ensuring the necessary conditions and resources for the educational process is of vital importance. Addressing these issues has become the foundation of Yael Poliavich’s philanthropic work.
The foundation’s work aims to ensure that children, particularly in remote communities, have access to modern education while also gaining a deeper understanding of Jewish history, culture, and identity. To achieve these goals, the Yael Foundation collaborates with local organisations in various countries. Partners are organisations that share common values and enjoy trust within their communities.
Yael Poliavich works with professional educators to develop educational programs and provide the necessary resources for local initiatives. This structured approach has already enabled the foundation to support quality education for over 22,500 Jewish children.
Educational Programs and Initiative Development
While maintaining its core focus, the Yael Foundation has gradually expanded the scope of its work. One of the organisation’s key objectives is to create flexible educational programs that can be adapted to the needs of different communities.
The foundation pays special attention to supporting teachers and developing the educational environment. To this end, Yael Poliavich collaborates with educators and local leaders, involved in implementing educational initiatives. This helps to combine local experience with long-term educational goals and support the development of educational programs in various communities.
Values and Approach to Philanthropy
For Yael Poliavich, philanthropy is an extension of her personal beliefs and values. Education, family, responsibility, long-term planning, community care, and a strategic approach to developing initiatives play a central role in her work.
Support for educational projects is viewed as both a way to help individual children and a contribution to the long-term development of communities. Through educational initiatives, Yael Poliavich strives to create opportunities for children and support the development of Jewish communities in various countries.
Education as a Factor in Social Development
Philanthropy in the field of education has the potential to influence social development, starting at the local level. Quality education helps create an environment in which children can acquire knowledge and go on to participate in the development of their communities and professional fields.
Yael Poliavich has chosen to support education as one of the key areas of her work, viewing it as a vital tool for long-term change. Through collaboration with educational organisations, educators, and local partners, she participates in initiatives aimed at expanding educational opportunities for children in various countries.