‘Vital projects to heal trauma’

The WIZO Victoria Gala at Carousel on August 14 was a sold out event focused on the theme “When courage speaks”.

Co-president Hani Hanam-Papalia noted WIZO’s role as one of Israel’s largest welfare organisations: “For over 105 years we have been there in every stage of life, in every crisis, when Israel has been attacked. Our appeal is simple and urgent – to complete the vital projects that will heal trauma and keep families safe.”

WIZO Victoria is fundraising for initiatives including trauma therapy for children, families and reservists and bomb shelters for childcare centres that have a sensory-motor room.

“We have completed almost 50 bomb shelters, but the job is far from over. Every childcare centre in a high-risk area must be made safe and new shelters built where none exist,” Hanam-Papalia said.

While co-president Penny Goodman remarked, “When I think about our theme tonight, ‘Where courage speaks’, I think of the voices that refuse to be silenced, like Zach Sage Fox… voices like Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who endured the unimaginable as a prisoner in Iran and has used her voice to fight for the release of hostages suffering the same fate.”