Microfy, a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization, works with women who are often overlooked: the residents of Tel Aviv's southern neighborhoods, who live a world away from the city's lucrative hi-tech scene. In addition to providing training to entrepreneurs, the women are enrolled in a business forum, which gives them on-going support as well as critical business contacts. Program participant Sigalit (above, next to a website advertising her childcare business) not only found support in the business forum-- she also found tax specialist (who was also a program alum), who helped her get substantial business-tax refund!
Monday, February 29, 2016
Getting More Women in Israeli Board Rooms
Jasmine, a Foundation grantee, will be working with a cohort of accomplished Jewish and Arab women to put them in their rightful place: in the board room of Israeli companies. More women in such leadership positions increases the likelihood that companies will adopt female-friendly policies. Staff from Jasmine, pictured above, will provide training to these women via the Open University in Israel, and then offer them high-level mentors, who will grant them access to positions of power.
Job Readiness Program Helps Women in the Triangle Region
Foundation grantee Tishreen, working with Na'amat, the Israeli women's group, is providing intensive job-readiness training and support to Arab Israeli women in the Triangle region. The area faces an extraordinarily high unemployment rate. Staff from the two nonprofits, pictured above, are improving the Hebrew language skills of these women, are teaching them how to apply for work, and are bolstering their self-worth.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Fast Start for New Anti-Sexual Harassment Code in Israel
Watch a short video about the code here.
Aiding Haredi Social Entrepreneurs
One of the Foundation's newest grantees is Presentense in Jerusalem, which is helping ultra-Orthodox women create or expand their own businesses. Presentense is working with another nonprofit, Temech (staff from both groups are pictured above), to adapt its successful business incubator program to the needs of this population. In some cases, the women develop programs and services specifically targeted to their own community, e.g. a toy rental program for early-childhood programs.
Hadassah Foundation Project Wins Israeli Government Award
Staffers from Shatil, pictured center and right, told the Hadassah Foundation that a key element of a program it supported is about to receive a prize from Israel's Public Administration Commissioner. Shatil, as part of project to ensure equal pay for female workers in Israel, partnered with Israel's Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission to create an online tool--now on the EEOC' s website--that enables employers to enter pay data anonymously and view any potentially discriminatory patterns. The EEOC worker who was Shatil's partner in creating this tool will be cited for her work next month.
Big Win for Center for Women's Justice!
During a visit today to Center for Women's Justice, the Hadassah Foundation learned that it's Jerusalem-based grantee just had a major win. Director Susan Weiss, pictured, reported that the Israeli courts just ruled that a man who hid his business partner for 10 years (!!!) in order to help his associate evade giving a get, a Jewish religious divorce to his wife, could be held liable for his actions. The divorcing women received a settlement worth around $60,000.
They also won a judgement that enables women from all streams of Judaism in Israel to use the Orthodox-controlled ritual baths for conversion and other purposes.