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Self-help through Economic Independence
Particular emphasis has been placed on developing economic self-sufficiency and vocational skills in residential communities of the emotionally, physically and developmentally handicapped. Interest-free loans have been made to students, non-profit organizations and small businesses, often providing needed capital at critical phases of individual lives and enterprises.
The Centre for Deaf-Blind Persons' Theatre Project
The project involved twelve deaf-blind actors, six sign-language interpreters and a professional theatre director. After four pilot plays, it was determined that there was sufficient public interest to make the theatre a viable source of income and employment for the performers. The Foundation subsidized the monthly performances for youth community centres and schools.
The Halfway House at Kibbutz Gesher Haziv
The Halfway House was supported to provide a work rehabilitation program for recovering drug addicts. A commercial plant nursery was sponsored to provide work opportunities and create an ongoing source of funding for the rehabilitation program.
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Self-help through Education and Empowerment
Given the lack of sufficient governmental protection of the social rights of the underprivileged, programs designed to empower citizens in disadvantaged neighborhoods have been supported. Resettlement efforts for new immigrants have been multi-faceted, involving education, retraining, employment opportunities, and projects that ease social integration into new societies. Committed to improving the status of women in society, the Foundation has supported programs to advance womens' leadership.
FIDEL Hotline for Ethiopian Immigrants
Many of Israel’s 85'000 Ethiopian immigrants experience difficulties adjusting to the current Israeli political and social environment. The Foundation sponsors support services in Amharic to provide up-to-date security information for families and counseling for youth-at-risk.
WIZO Committee for the Advancement of Women in Politics
The Committee targeted young women in leadership positions such as the heads of student councils and voluntary groups to participate in workshops geared to develop understanding of leadership and public office.
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Self-help through Physical and Technical Assistance
With the passage of the Israeli National Disabilities Act, the Foundation has helped advocacy efforts to ensure its implementation. Research and design of new devices to allow greater mobility for the physically disabled have been sponsored together with rehabilitation services. Numerous programs to assist the blind and/or deaf have been funded to enable those with disabilities to develop their potential. To address the immediate concerns of the poor, food banks were established and electric generators provided to those requiring assistance with basic needs.
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
The Institute received support for its program researching and designing artificial limbs for disabled persons.
The Swiss Recovery Foundation
The Foundation received support to provide legal aid and psychotherapeutic treatment for disadvantaged persons.
The Institute for the Advancement of Deaf Persons
The Institute was supported in developing a local Arabic dialect sign-language and bi-lingual training kits for introduction in Arab communities, and to assist professionals in the fields of social work, education and psychology.
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Programs for Individuals at Risk
The Foundation has sponsored a wide range of programs to strengthen services for those at risk. Traumatic experiences continue to haunt the lives of survivors, requiring special efforts to restore functioning in their work and personal lives. Early intervention with infants and children, who appear developmentally at risk, helps give them a head start. Support has been provided for halfway houses for recovering drug addicts and summer camps for their children, shelters for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse together with programs that work directly with abusers.
UNESCO
The Foundation has supported UNESCO for its efforts to give a future to the many millions of children who are victims of war, violence and neglect, including child labor, homeless children and children struggling with disabilities.
LO Combat Violence Against Women
The Foundation supported LO Combat in its efforts to shelter battered women and their children. To ease the children's adjustment to life in the shelters, computers were provided and staff was trained in educational computer programs that productively use this otherwise traumatic period.
ERAN - Israel Association for Emotional First Aid
The Association received support to train volunteers to counsel people in emotional crisis through telephone support that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A special campaign to expand services to suicidal adolescents was launched with assistance from the Foundation.
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Innovative Therapeutic Approaches
Understanding that creative therapies play an important role within the process of healing, the Foundation has supported a variety of music and art therapy programs with a broad range of populations.
Alut, Israel
Alut was founded by parents of children with autism to provide education and rehabilitation services, train professionals, and offer assistance and support to families. The Foundation supported therapeutic art and music activities, horseback riding, speech therapy, and other behavioral interventions.
The Special Olympics for Handicapped Children
This is a project of the Spanish Royal Family that continues to receive Foundation support. These competitive activities promote sports for handicapped persons and aid in their personal development and social integration.
The Israeli Sandplay Therapy Centre, Israel
The center was established as a joint project of the Foundation and the Hackel Family to train professionals in this non-verbal expressive therapy technique, especially appropriate for those with traumatic physical and mental illnesses. The training program targets professionals in hospitals, mental health clinics, schools and residential treatment centers.
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