Leadership and Empowerment Programmes
WIZO is committed to empowering women across Israel and raising the number of women in a position of influence. The Women’s Leadership programme operates in WIZO branches, inspiring and training young Israeli women to become agents for change, promote social activism within their communities, elevate women’s status, and create equality.
Training is provided to community administration managers from the various neighbourhoods of Jerusalem. The community administration serves as a voice of the residents within the large Jerusalem Municipality. Collaborating with WIZO on this project are the Jerusalem Municipality (Office of the Advisor to the Mayor on Gender Equality) and the US Embassy.
Continuing On The Way assists women going through a difficult separation or divorce process. During two-month courses led by counsellors, women empower and encourage each other through shared experience and practical advice
Leadership and empowerment of teenage girls – Girls born into families on the social or physical periphery of Israel are often faced with challenges beyond the normal hardships of poverty, neglect and abuse. They can suffer from gender stereotypes of inequality and inferiority suppressing their natural drive to succeed and destroying any self-confidence. This results in low academic achievement, poor social integration, and lack of self-esteem due to their familial and social circumstances. Often, they exhibit emotional, behavioural, and physical disorders. The girls participating in WIZO’s Otzma Tze’irah programme have no other support system to help them counter their negative feelings and behaviours. Without a programme such as this to show them their options and worth, these girls are at great risk of dropping out of school, leading a self-destructive life and continuing the cycle to the next generation.
WIZO works to counter this danger by empowering these girls to believe in themselves and reach their full potential. Otzma Tze’irah is run in five Israeli cities focusing on building self-confidence, self-esteem and coping skills. The girls are given both physical and emotional support. Counsellors listen intently to what they have to say and with basic comforts such as warm food and a safe place to be, the girls begin to open up. Each girl learns to recognise her value as well as the important contribution of women to society. This encourages their world view to change, together with their vision of the future. Participants use various artistic mediums as an outlet for self-expression. Rehabilitation programmes are tailored to each group. Regular feedback and evaluation monitoring improvement in social skills and academic achievement, are all of major importance to aid full integration into society.
“Instead of seeing a blank page when I think of my future, I now see a book waiting to be written.”
– Dana
The Teen Leadership Programme – Academia was recognised by the Ministry of Education as an official high school community service programme in 2019, with the goal of creating a cohesive and motivated group of young leaders. Theory sessions are aimed at developing critical thinking regarding society and gender issues. Meaningful community service work including volunteering with children and the elderly in WIZO centres and in WIZO’s second-hand clothing shops is an integral part of the programme