How Wizo is changing to stay relevant to the new generation of women
What is it that for more than a century has connected tens of thousands of Jewish women in over 50 countries to Wizo? And how has that commitment endured, despite the catalogue of challenges faced by communities everywhere?
The answer can be traced back to where it all began in Manchester in 1918 with the determination of Rebecca Sieff (alongside Vera Weizmann and Romana Goodman) to create a better life for the women and children of Palestine, opening the first mother and baby home in Jerusalem in 1920. From the seeds of this vision grew a worldwide volunteer-led movement committed to Israel, and especially to strengthening Israeli society.
Now, in 2022, a network of more than 250,000 Wizo volunteers around the globe support Israel’s largest independent social welfare organisation, operating 800 projects and programmes across the country for vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens at every stage of life, regardless of race, religion or gender.
It invests heavily in every student at its youth villages and schools, giving them hope for the future. Abused women are kept safe in shelters and helped to rebuild their lives. A hotline for men offers support for dealing with anger management. The UK division raises up to £2m-plus annually for Wizo’s vital welfare work.
A longstanding staple of our fundraising effort is the yearly Jewish Women’s Week (JWW) collection, now back in full swing after pandemic restrictions. For 75 years, Wizo women across the country have collected for JWW, the only Home Office-approved door-to-door collection within the Jewish community. Beyond the funds raised, it maintains links with the community, although in taking it forward, we are offering digital ways to collect and donate.
Commitment to the charity through the generations has been a constant source of new blood as women follow in the footsteps of mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers by joining their local groups — indeed, our chair Annabel Stelzer is fourth-generation Wizo. I know there is a perception that Wizo is an organisation for older ladies. That’s not strictly true. Yes, we have loyal supporters who have been with us for decades. However, we also enjoy the support of younger women and our younger groups include a professional network. There is even a teenage group based in Leeds, and activities such as a story-writing competition and initiatives with schools help raise awareness among the next generation.
And we appreciate that as society has evolved, so has the lifestyle of women. Combining career and family life demands more time, leaving less space for charitable activities. To encourage involvement, we are working on a time-sensitive programme covering a range of interests, using networks here and abroad to offer a special experience.
To make it easier to participate, we will be scheduling events at different times of the day to fit in with work and family commitments, such as school runs.
Building on the success of the Wizo Quiz At Home, we are also expanding the “At Home” brand, recognising that despite the return to live events, many still have a preference for smaller groups sharing a social activity.
We are further embarking on campaigns that reflect our work and objectives while relating to issues and interests closer to home. An example of this is Wizo’s current campaign, Women Leading The Way. It is well documented that the pandemic has seen a global escalation of violence against women. Women Leading The Way focuses on the safety, equality and advancement of women and the significance of education, which has always been at the heart of Wizo’s ethos.
As part of an international movement, we also look forward to working more closely with federations in other countries, creating opportunities for shared activity.
It is the roots of the past that provide the foundation for the future and the partnership with forward-thinking individuals, volunteers, professionals and trustees that will steer Wizo’s journey through the next 100 years.
And we’ll continue to support Israel’s greatest resource — its people.
We will now be scheduling events at different times of the day to fit in with work and family commitments