UIA Women’s Division unites in support of life-changing program
Over 1000 women came together for UIA Women’s Division 2023 headline events across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to hear from inspirational guest speakers Ayelet Shaked and Liat Shaked.
This year, the theme of the events in each state was Celebrating Powerful Women, and we are proud to have provided the opportunity for supporters to hear from two Israeli women who embody just that.
Ayelet Shaked and Liat Shaked
The UIA Australia Women’s Division Campaign began with UIA NSW, where the successful, innovative format of an afternoon tea at host homes across Sydney was employed once again. The two dynamic speakers were livestreamed, in conversation with UIA NSW Executive Director and Shlicha Jasmine Malul. UIA VIC held a supper for members of the community where they could hear from Ayelet and Liat in person at St Kilda Town Hall. In WA, an intimate dinner was held at a private residence where supporters heard from the speakers in person. Across the states, women of all demographics united in their support of the People of Israel, at a time when this support is needed more than ever.
Currently, Israel is facing one of the most tumultuous periods of our time: internal division has provoked the largest protests in Israel’s history. When a country is in turmoil, the members of society hardest hit are always its most vulnerable: the marginalised and under-served Israelis, living on the periphery.
Israel has one of the largest gaps between rich and poor amongst OECD countries. This stark reality has led to one of the county’s greatest social challenges – the high number of young children at risk. As a result, Israeli society is facing a staggeringly high incidence of child neglect, domestic violence and food insecurity, and the demand for emotional and psychological support among young parents living below the poverty line has increased dramatically. It is with this in mind that UIA Women’s Division is proud to support their federal project, Heartbeats.
Heartbeats is an early intervention program that supports children at risk over the first 1000 days of their life, and their parents. Parenting-support professionals run programs to instruct new parents from marginalised communities in baby care and healthy parenting skills, as well as catering to any additional health, developmental or psychological needs. They also facilitate parental access to communal support services available in their area. Located in 11 locations on Israel’s periphery, this unique program is already helping over 600 families.
“The UIA Women’s Division Campaign for 2023 is proving that not only are the women proud to be supporters of Israel by attending the functions around Australia, but by their support of the new Heartbeats program whereby young mothers on the periphery of Israeli society are taught to navigate those first challenging 1000 days of motherhood. UIA Women’s Division proudly embraced and ran with this program in order to reduce emotional and learning trauma for at-risk Israeli children in the future,” UIA Australia and WA Women’s Division President Debbie Schaffer OAM said.
This year, all three Women’s Division Campaigns across Australia are uniting in support of this life-changing program and are fundraising federally to launch a new Heartbeats centre in Dimona, in the south of Israel. This new centre will only be built with the help of UIA’s support.
To donate to UIA’s Women’s Division 2023 Campaign, please visit uiaaustralia.org.au/donate
