An inspirational Israel tour, the prize in last summer’s WIZO Commitment Awards, has given Kisharon’s winners new insights into supporting disadvantaged individuals.

Aviva Braunold, Manager of Kisharon’s Vocational College, and Employment and Opportunities Manager Shlomo Weltman travelled virtually the length and breadth of Israel visiting many of the 800 projects WIZO supports on the six-day trip.
Aviva and Shlomo together with Hadassa Kessler, Day Opportunities Manager, won the award for changing perceptions of what adults with learning disabilities can achieve. Each has been with Kisharon for more than ten years and in that time they have seen a positive impact on the lives of the adults they support, many of whom are now living and working independently in the community.
Aviva said: “The person-centred approach we saw at projects in Israel was the same as Kisharon’s. Staff are devoted to the people they support and really listen to every individual in their care to make sure they have everything they need.”
Dr Jo Garland of Infinity was also on the trip. She won a WIZO Commitment Award for her work with Kisharon to develop the Infinity app, which is used in supported living by staff to communicate information about individuals in their care.
On the trip, Aviva sent emails to each of the students at Kisharon Vocational College with photos and encouraged them to write back about their week, as part of their computer training and communication skills.

PHOTO: The ‘Dream Big’ sign, photographed on a museum in Israel, is one of the pictures Aviva sent back to the college students