Empowering and keeping women safe is an integral part of WIZO’s philosophy.

Be’er Sheva is the largest city in the Negev Desert of Southern Israel and is a virtual melting pot of Jewish immigrants from East Africa, the former USSR and Ethiopia. In addition, it’s southern location and neighbouring Bedouin and Arab communities make for a complex social and diverse community.

In 2008, WIZO stepped in to create the ADI programme in Be’er Sheva to assist a group of twelve girls ages 13‐16 who had been emotionally, physically and sexually abused and who also lacked family or community support. As WIZO’s work and reputation with the young teens expanded throughout Be’er Sheva, older girls ages16-26 began to approach WIZO for help. The numbers of girls grew in both groups, not only making the premises crowded, but also making it very clear that the developmental, emotional and therapeutic needs of the two age groups were very different. The older girls needed a place of their own and WIZO Australia was approached to support this new project for the 16 to 26 year olds which will officially begin in late 2017. ‘Makom BaLev’ (A place in the heart).

This facility will take many young women off the streets and away from prostitution, giving them an opportunity to be educated and go out into the community and became proud of what they can achieve.

Programme Highlights:

• Professional counselling & support to a maximum of 50 young women

• Vocation rehabilitation tapered to individual needs

• Referral to medical care

• Safe & hygienic emergency housing

• Hot nutritious meals