A Building That Is Also a Home

On June 12, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology inaugurated the Anières dormitory building named after Henry Hamon, located near the Marc Hamon building inaugurated approximately two years ago. Both buildings serve as dormitories for students in the Anières Program studying at the Technion.

The ceremony was hosted by Shoshana White, a student in the program studying mechanical engineering at the Technion. “This village is a huge success, not only because of its wonderful design and architecture but also because it promotes interactions in a student’s life, many of whom are newcomers to this country,” she said. “The friendships that begin in the lives of people living here certainly complete the way of studying here at the Technion and may last a lifetime. This is more than just housing, it’s our home. Mr. Hamon’s support has an immediate impact on the success and excellence of Technion and its students.”

The Anières Program in Israel is an initiative of Marc Hamon, a native of Morocco who studied as a child at “Anières” in Switzerland – an institution that supported students from underprivileged backgrounds. In the 1990s, the program was brought to Israel by Hamon and Robert Singer, then Director General of World ORT. It initially opened at the WIZO Nahalal Youth Village, where one of the program’s visionaries, Shaul Mofaz – former IDF Chief of Staff, Knesset Member, and Minister – had studied.

Since many graduates of the program went on to study at the Technion, Hamon and Singer sought a way to support them as students there as well. This led to the idea of the first dormitory building, inaugurated two years ago. Last year, the Anières Pre-Academic Program was launched at the Technion, serving as a springboard for dozens of young new immigrants, and now the Henry Hamon building, named after Marc’s brother, has been inaugurated. Two years ago, Marc Hamon became a Technion Guardian – a title reserved for those who have supported the Technion at the highest level.

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan congratulated Marc Hamon, Robert Singer, and their partners, saying: “You have become part of the Technion family through our shared values: inclusiveness, liberalism, and human diversity. In recent years, full of challenges, I’ve learned that in times of crisis, it is better to put aside procedures and follow the moral compass, which never errs. This shared value system ensures that the connection between the Technion and Anières will never be broken.”

At the inauguration of the building, Mr. Hamon shared that he was born six years before Henry. “So when our father passed away, it was only natural for me to take Henry under my wing. I encouraged him to prepare for the entrance exams to the Anières program in Switzerland. Henry was accepted and graduated with honors from the program’s most advanced track in mathematics and physics – the nuclear department at the engineering school in Geneva. He completed his mandatory military service in the French army and then continued to the Polytechnic Institute in Geneva, where he earned a degree in computer science. He was a mensch and represented to me and to everyone who knew him, integrity, hard work, generosity, and humility, and he was always willing to help. These are the values of Anières.”

Henry’s son, Joel Hamon, also spoke at the event, accompanied by his brothers and sisters, mother, and uncles. “The story of Marc and Henry is that of two brothers who didn’t start with much but who managed to succeed with the help of ORT and the Anières program,” he said. “My father always worked hard in school, at work, and for his family. Marc was a mentor who paved the way and showed my father that it was possible. Marc helped him see the value of education, to believe in his own potential, in the true Anières spirit. He was a real brother, and he was a mentor. And here we are today, celebrating the new Anières program, inaugurating a building that bears my father’s name, thanks to Marc’s initiatives. Thank you, Marc.”

Dean of Students Prof. Guedi Capeluto said: “We just concluded the Board of Governors meeting, and there is no better way to end such a week, in the Technion’s centennial year, than by inaugurating another Anières building. Your initiative has become a great light, part of the greater light that the Technion spreads. As an architect, I can say you didn’t just create a physical structure but a true home – and that’s how the students living here will feel.”

Robert Singer shared that students in the program have received nearly 500 scholarships each year, and that the number is growing. “The two buildings will house 230 students who will become part of the Anières community,” he said. The Anières dormitories are not just well-equipped buildings – they are a community-building environment for program participants. Throughout their degree studies, students in the program receive comprehensive financial, academic, and social support. With the help of a dedicated team that personally oversees the well-being of each student, alongside workshops, enrichment activities, events, and mutual responsibility, they form a strong and supportive community.”

Photo credit: Sharon Tzur, Technion Spokesperson’s Office