WIZO’s Adi Project for High-Risk Teenage Girls

Or Shmailov: A Story of Resilience and Transformation

Or Shmailov was raised by a single mother, with her father absent from her life. She has five siblings but often felt unloved and unsupported. Her family used her as a “punching bag,” subjecting her to constant abuse and neglect. Feeling powerless to stop them, Or made the difficult decision to run away.

Life as a young girl alone was terrifying. Or recalls that she lived in fear of being murdered or raped. She even hoped the police would detain her, as it would at least provide her with food, shelter and protection from the cold. At just 14 years old, her social worker told her she needed a plan, emphasising that she should be in school.

Or’s turning point came when she found the Adi Centre programme for girls at risk, part of WIZO’s Be’er Sheva Centre. For the first time, she felt heard, supported and free from judgment. At the Adi Centre, Or was able to share her feelings openly and realised that some people genuinely cared about her.

Today, Or is thriving. She rents a flat, lives with a friend and is building her independence. She dreams of studying law and making a difference in the world. She describes the feeling of having people who choose to help as “the greatest feeling in the world.”

The Adi Centre is one of the flagship projects within the WIZO Be’er Sheva Centre, a hub dedicated to protecting girls at risk. Since its establishment, WIZO has helped hundreds of girls like Or. The Adi Centre supports a uniquely diverse community, including Bedouin tribes, immigrants from Ethiopia and Russia and Ukrainian refugees.

This year, the WIZO Be’er Sheva Centre is launching a joint project to connect Adi Centre girls with Bigudit (Charity Shop) volunteers, enabling them to work and volunteer together. This initiative empowers the girls, helping them to feel valuable, capable and independent.

Find more information about WIZO’s Adi Centre for girls at risk here: