Joining forces to fight poverty
The Joint and WIZO have joined forces for the first time since 1967, and will hold a joint event next month to help Israelis living on the margins.
THE Joint and WIZO have joined forces for the first time since 1967, and will hold an event together next month to fight poverty and help Israelis living on the margins.
Two of the largest providers of welfare and empowerment services in Israel, the organisations have taken the decision to unite because of a shared interest in breaking the cycle of poverty in Israel.
“WIZO and The Joint are the only two service providers in Israel capable of having a measurable impact on poor families,” said Anat Vidor, president of WIZO NSW.
“Together our infrastructure covers the full breadth and depth of the country and this crisis demands that we combine our reach and resources.”
The Joint, which is Israel’s largest NGO partner, has steadily rebuilt its presence in Australia after it helped more than 20,000 Holocaust survivors resettle in Australia after the war.
“We’ve talked a lot about our work helping Jews in remote corners of the globe, but what few people realise is that we spend a third of our budget in Israel on programs that help raise hundreds of thousands of Israelis out of poverty,” said Eva Fischl, president of The Joint Australia. “We share a common passion with WIZO, which is an investment in Israel’s best resource, its people.”
The function, at Randwick Racecourse on August 24, will host Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon as the keynote speaker. Ya’alon, Israel’s former defence minister who recently announced his intention to run for prime minister, will outline his vision for Israel’s future
The event will also highlight where new needs lie in Israel. According to a report released by the National Insurance Institute, around one in three children live in poverty in Israel, which has the second highest poverty rate among OECD countries, ranking behind Mexico.
“There comes a time when people need to come together to help and this is simply one of them,” Fischl said.
Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.trybooking.com/LYRQ or by calling (02) 9387 3666.
AJN STAFF
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