WIZO - an international movement of Zionist women was founded in 1920. Today, there are over a quarter of a million active WIZO members in 50 federations around the world, working for the welfare of Israeli citizens and lending a vital hand in the operating of hundreds of education and welfare projects and services. WIZO is a non-party affiliated Zionist movement, recognized by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization with consultative status on key international organizations such as ECOSOC and UNICEF.
In a country like Israel, that continuously absorbs new immigrants and embraces a diverse population, there is considerable need to assist the weaker segments of society and people in distress. This need was evident even prior to the founding of the state and has been adapted according to the changing conditions prevailing in Israel. However, even today, there are tens of thousands of citizens in need of help who fall between the cracks -WIZO steps in to fill the void and provide them with aid. All sectors of the community receive assistance, from babies to the elderly. WIZO enriches the lives of children in day care centers, high schools and youth clubs, provides aid to teenage girls in distress and to battered women, who receive shelter, psychological aid, treatment, rehabilitation and legal assistance. New immigrants and women from minority communities turn to WIZO. Senior Citizens are given a helping hand in clubs, sheltered workshops and the Parents Home in the heart of Tel
Aviv.
WIZO seeks to react to the challenges of every period of life, to reach out and respond to social needs, to take care of those in distress, to focus on children and adults, to lend a hand to new immigrants and to protect those at risk -thereby ensuring a better society for all.
WIZO was founded in Great Britain in 1920. The founders of WIZO, Rebecca Sieff, Dr. Vera Weizmann, Edith Eder, Romana Goodman and Henrietta Irwell, formed Wizo with the goal of serving the needs of women and children in the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel).Under the guidance of Rebecca Sieff, three of the leaders visited Palestine and held discussions with a great number of women engaged in pioneering work in Palestine. They returned to London in 1919 with far sighted reports on the urgent necessities of the women and children in Palestine and plans for improving the prevailing conditions by establishing social and welfare services and institutions for the agricultural and vocational training of young girls.
Between 1921 to 1933, WIZO focused on up building its work in Palestine and developing the Movement in the Diaspora (excluding the U.S.A and Canada).
The years 1933 and during World War II witnessed the annihilation of Jewish communities in Europe and the dissolution of WIZO Federations in countries under the Nazi scourge. This was also the era when 19 new Latin American WIZO Federations were created. The first post war period was that of the resuscitation of WIZO Federations and groups in Europe.
In 1949, following the establishment of the State of Israel, the WIZO Head Office was transferred from London to Israel and Rebecca Sieff was elected 1st President of the World WIZO Movement. She served as President till 1966. She was followed by Rosa Ginossar who was elected Chairman of the World WIZO executive in 1951 and then President in 1966. In 1970, Raya Jaglom was elected President and served in this capacity till 1996. During her term of office, WIZO was established in the U.S. in 1981, in Hong Kong and in Budapest and Prague. During this period, WIZO was recognized as an N.G.O. with consultative status with Ecosoc and Unicef.
In 1996, Michal Modai, former chairman of the executive of the Israel Federation and of the World WIZO Executive, was elected President of World WIZO. Helena Glaser, Chairperson of the WIZO Israel Federation, was elected Chairperson of the World WIZO Executive.
Reprinted from WIZO.org, Israel.