Women'S International Zionist Organization

Established in Great Britain in 1920, The Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) is a non-profit women's organization of volunteers in over 50 countries working together to improve the lives of women, children and the elderly living in Israel. Next to the Israeli government, WIZO is one of the largest providers of social welfare services in the country. WIZO operates over 800 social welfare projects including child care centers, schools, shelters for battered women, homes for girls in distress and programs providing services for the elderly. As a powerful voice for all Jewish women, in 1959 WIZO was recognized by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and was the first Zionist organization granted consultative status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). WIZO USA, established in 1982, is a membership organization whose primary focus is supporting its WIZO projects in Israel. Int the United States, WIZO aims to strengthen the bonds between Israel and American Jewry by promoting Jewish Identity and education. WIZO is vital to building and preserving a successful Jewish State. At every age, WIZO nourishes the body, comforts the soul, educates the mind and empowers the individual. WIZO operates 170 day care centers. WIZO USA is fiscally responsible for providing the operating funds for 9 of these centers. Located throughout Israel, these centers provide education, therapy, support, and a nurturing environment for over 14,000 infants, toddlers, and young children aged 6 months to 4 years. Many of these children have suffered from neglect and struggle with learning disabilities, physical handicaps, and emotional issues which require professional intervention. Providing accessible, enriched, and supportive childcare is at the core of our WIZO day care mission.